speak

[ speek ]

/ spik /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR speak ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk: He was too ill to speak.

to communicate vocally; mention: to speak to a person about various matters.

to converse: She spoke with him for an hour.

to deliver an address, discourse, etc.: to speak at a meeting.

to make a statement in written or printed words.

to communicate, signify, or disclose by any means; convey significance.

Phonetics. to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, especially through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.

(of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.

to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.

Chiefly British. (of dogs) to bark when ordered.

Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

to utter vocally and articulately: to speak words of praise.

to express or make known with the voice: to speak the truth.

to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.

to make known, indicate, or reveal.

to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language: to speak French.

(of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.

Nautical. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal: We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

Archaic. to speak to or with.

Verb Phrases

speak for,

to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.
to express or articulate the views of; represent.
to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself: This item is already spoken for.

speak out, to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly: He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.

Idioms for speak

so to speak, to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking: We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.

speak by the book, to say with great authority or precision: I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.

speak well for, to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to: Her manners speak well for her upbringing.

to speak of, worth mentioning: The country has no mineral resources to speak of.

Origin of speak

before 900; Middle English speken, Old English specan, variant of sprecan; cognate with German sprechen (Old High German sprehhan; compare variant spehhan)

SYNONYMS FOR speak

1 Speak, converse, talk mean to make vocal sounds, usually for purposes of communication. To speak often implies conveying information and may apply to anything from an informal remark to a scholarly presentation to a formal address: to speak sharply; to speak before Congress. To converse is to exchange ideas with someone by speaking: to converse with a friend. To talk is a close synonym for to speak but usually refers to less formal situations: to talk about the weather; to talk with a friend.

12 pronounce, articulate.

13 say.

15 disclose.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR speak ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM speak

speak·a·ble, adjective speak·a·ble·ness, noun speak·a·bly, adverb

Words nearby speak

spaza shop, spca, spck, spd, spda, speak, speak down to, speak for, speak of the devil, speak one's mind, speak one's piece

Definition for speak (2 of 2)

-speak

a combining form extracted from newspeak (coined by George Orwell in his novel, 1984), used in the formation of compound words, usually derogatory, derisive, or facetious, that denote the style or vocabulary of a discipline, person, era, etc., as specified by the initial element: techspeak; artspeak; nukespeak; leetspeak; geek-speak.

Example sentences from the Web for speak

So we do demand justice and we do speak up and make demands.

Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder |Jason McGahan |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
“We met the smuggler in the train station; he came to speak with us about the services he provided,” Yazbek says.

Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean |Barbie Latza Nadeau |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
He disagrees, though, and says it is the duty of every person—men, especially—to speak up on this issue.

Can Hip-Hop Prevent Honor Killings? |Moral Courage |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They were born in 51 countries and speak 59 foreign languages, but they seemed bound by a single purpose and resolve.

Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation |Michael Daly |December 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The Baluch in Iran do not speak Farsi but Baluchi, just like the Baluch in Pakistan, and in Iran they are a Sunni minority.

The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan |Umar Farooq |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
And I could not speak a consoling word to her; Klaus did not wish it.

A Sister's Love |W. Heimburg
This clears the atmosphere, so to speak, and we know who were after.

The Motor Boys on the Wing |Clarence Young
When a senator assumes to speak for the President, every senator possesses a public right to demand his authority for so doing.

Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2) |Thomas Hart Benton
All persons who speak of their ailings, diseases, or bodily infirmities, are offensive bores.

Martine's Hand-book of Etiquette, and Guide to True Politeness |Arthur Martine
Suppose now she stood before him, wonder-eyes raised, seeking his soul's truth; hands resting in his until he should speak.

Joyce of the North Woods |Harriet T. Comstock

British Dictionary definitions for speak (1 of 2)

speak

/ (spiːk) /

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)

to communicate or express (something) in or as if in words I speak the truth

(intr) to deliver a speech, discourse, etc

(tr) to know how to talk in (a language or dialect) he does not speak German

(intr) to make a characteristic sound the clock spoke

(intr) (of dogs, esp hounds used in hunting) to give tongue; bark

(tr) nautical to hail and converse or communicate with (another vessel) at sea

(intr) (of a musical instrument) to produce a sound

(intr foll by for) to be a representative or advocate (of) he speaks for all the members

on speaking terms on good terms; friendly

so to speak in a manner of speaking; as it were

speak one's mind to express one's opinions frankly and plainly

to speak of of a significant or worthwhile nature we have had no support to speak of

See also speak for, speak out, speak to, speak up

Derived forms of speak

speakable, adjective

Word Origin for speak

Old English specan; related to Old High German spehhan, Middle High German spechten to gossip, Middle Dutch speken; see speech

British Dictionary definitions for speak (2 of 2)

-speak

suffix forming nouns

informal the language or jargon of a specific group, organization, or field computerspeak

Word Origin for -speak

C20: formed on the pattern of newspeak

Idioms and Phrases with speak

speak

In addition to the idioms beginning with speak

speak down to
speak for
speak of the devil
speak one's mind
speak one's piece
speak out
speak out of turn
speak the same language
speak too soon
speak up
speak volumes

also see:

actions speak louder than words
in a manner of speaking
nothing to speak of
not to mention (speak of)
on speaking terms
so to speak
to speak of

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

speak

verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for speak

Origin of speak

SYNONYMS FOR speak

OTHER WORDS FROM speak

Words nearby speak

Definition for speak (2 of 2)

Example sentences from the Web for speak

British Dictionary definitions for speak (1 of 2)

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

Derived forms of speak

Word Origin for speak

British Dictionary definitions for speak (2 of 2)

suffix forming nouns

Word Origin for -speak

Idioms and Phrases with speak

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

speak

verb (used without object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

verb (used with object), spoke or (Archaic) spake; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for speak

Origin of speak

SYNONYMS FOR speak

OTHER WORDS FROM speak

Words nearby speak

Definition for speak (2 of 2)

Words related to speak

Example sentences from the Web for speak

British Dictionary definitions for speak (1 of 2)

verb speaks, speaking, spoke or spoken

Derived forms of speak

Word Origin for speak

British Dictionary definitions for speak (2 of 2)

suffix forming nouns

Word Origin for -speak

Idioms and Phrases with speak