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tête-à-tête

noun \ ˌtet-ə-ˈtet , ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt , sense 2 is also ˈtēt-ə-ˌtēt \

Definition of tête-à-tête

1 :a private conversation between two persons
2 :a short piece of furniture (such as a sofa) intended to seat two persons especially facing each other

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Origin and Etymology of tête-à-tête

French, literally, head to head

tête-à-tête Synonyms

Synonyms
backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag [slang], chitchat, confab, confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, natter [chiefly British], palaver, patter, rap, schmooze, small talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-tête
Related Words
colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, powwow, symposium; debate, dialogue (also dialog), exchange, give-and-take; crosstalk, happy talk; yak (also yack), yammer, yap
2

tête-à-tête

adverb \ ˌtet-ə-ˈtet , ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt \

Definition of tête-à-tête

:in private

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First Known Use of tête-à-tête

1700

tête-à-tête Synonyms

Synonyms
face-to-face, personally, in private, in secret
Related Words
familiarly, intimately; confidentially, secretly; directly, immediately
Near Antonyms
distantly, indirectly; openly, publicly
3

tête-à-tête

adjective \ ˌtet-ə-ˌtet , ˌtāt-ə-ˌtāt \

Definition of tête-à-tête

:face-to-face, private

First Known Use of tête-à-tête

1728

TÊTE-À-TÊTE Defined for English Language Learners

tête-à-tête

noun

Definition of tête-à-tête for English Language Learners

  • : a private conversation between two people

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