talk

1 a usually formal discourse delivered to an audience the noted author's talk on the state of the modern novel Synonyms address, declamation, harangue, oration, peroration, speechRelated Words diatribe, rant, tirade; eulogy, panegyric, tribute; keynote address (or keynote speech), lecture, salutatory; homily, sermon; monologue (also monolog), soliloquy; pitch, presentation, spiel

2 an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue what good will all this talk do when we need to take action now? Synonyms argument, argumentation, argy-bargy [chiefly British], back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), give-and-take, palaver, parley, discussionRelated Words bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, powwow, roundtable, seminar, skull session (also skull practice), symposium, talkathon; chat, conversation, rap, words; discourse, disquisition; bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

3 friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this sat down by the fire and had a nice little talk about what was new in the village 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, chat, tête-à-têteRelated Words colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, powwow, symposium; debate, dialogue (also dialog), exchange, give-and-take; crosstalk, happy talk; yak (also yack), yammer, yap

4 information or opinion that is widely disseminated without any authority or confirmation of accuracy her wild behavior is exciting some lurid talk Synonyms buzz, dish, gossip, hearsay, noise, report, scuttlebutt, rumor, tattle, wordRelated Words tale, whisper, whispering; hint, intimation, rumbling; disinformation, propaganda; urban legend (also urban myth); dirt, scandal

1 to give a formal often extended talk on a subject the fire chief often talks at school assemblies about fire safety Synonyms declaim, descant, discourse, expatiate, harangue, lecture, orate, speak Related Words recite, soliloquize; dissert, expound, pontificate, sermonize; mouth, spout; filibuster Phrases hold forth, take the floor

2 to engage in casual or rambling conversation talked with our neighbor as we unloaded the groceries from the car Synonyms babble, blab, cackle, chaffer [British], chatter, chin [slang], converse, gab, gabble, gas, jabber, jaw, kibitz (also kibbitz), natter, palaver, patter, prate, prattle, rap, rattle, run on, schmooze (or shmooze), chat, twitter, visitRelated Words gossip, tattle; descant, discuss, expatiate; yak (also yack), yammer, yap

3 to express (a thought or emotion) in words you're talking nonsense: take a minute and think about what you are trying to say, and then start speaking Synonyms articulate, bring out, enunciate, pass, speak, state, say, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalizeRelated Words air, discuss, give, look, share, sound, vent, ventilate, voice; blabber, bolt, blurt, get off, shoot; advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish; affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow; breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, splutter, spout, whisper; clothe, couch, formulate, formulize, phrase, put, word; comment, pipe up (with), remark; rip (out), snarlNear Antonyms stifle, suppress

4 to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities after being threatened, the eyewitness started talking at length about what he had seen in the alley Synonyms fink, grass (on) [British slang], inform, rat (on), sing, snitch, split (on) [British], squeak, squeal, tell (on)Related Words betray, give away, turn in; backstab, cross, double-cross, sell (out), two-time; blab, tattle; tip (off)

5 to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature you're a fine one to talk about your sister's marital problems when you have had plenty of your own Synonyms blab, dish, gossip, tattle, wagRelated Words bandy (about), circulate, noise (about or abroad), rumor; blabber, disclose, divulge, reveal, tell; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, let on, suggest; inform, report, snitch, squeal, tip (off); babble, spill; confideNear Antonyms clam up, shut up