tête-à-tête

1 of 3

noun

ˌtet-ə-ˈtet 

ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt,

 sense 2 is also  ˈtēt-ə-ˌtēt

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

tête-à-tête

2 of 3

adverb

ˌtet-ə-ˈtet 

ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt

: in private

tête-à-tête

3 of 3

adjective

ˌtet-ə-ˌtet 

ˌtāt-ə-ˌtāt

: face-to-face, private

Synonyms

Noun

• backchat
• cackle
• causerie
• chat
• 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

Adverb

• face-to-face
• personally

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, literally, head to head

First Known Use

Noun

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1700, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1728, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tête-à-tête

1 of 3 noun

ˈtāt-ə-ˌtāt

: a private conversation between two persons

tête-à-tête

2 of 3 adverb

ˌtāt-ə-ˈtāt

: in private

tête-à-tête

3 of 3 adjective

ˌtāt-ə-ˌtāt

: being face-to-face : private