speak

¹

[speek]

verb (used without object)

spoke , spake, spoken , spoke, speaking .

1. to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk.

   He was too ill to speak.

2. to communicate vocally; mention.

   to speak to a person about various matters.

3. to converse.

   She spoke with him for an hour.

4. to deliver an address, discourse, etc..

   to speak at a meeting.

5. to make a statement in written or printed words.

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

   The voters have spoken loud and clear.

7. 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.

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

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

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

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

verb (used with object)

spoke , spake, spoken , spoke, speaking .

1. to utter vocally and articulately.

   to speak words of praise.

   Synonyms: articulate, pronounce

2. to express or make known with the voice.

   to speak the truth.

   Synonyms: say

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

4. to make known, indicate, or reveal.

   Synonyms: disclose

5. to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language.

   to speak French.

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

7. Nautical.,  to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal.

   We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

8. Archaic.,  to speak to or with.

verb phrase

1. 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.

2. speak for

   1. to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.

   2. to express or articulate the views of; represent.

   3. to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself.

      This item is already spoken for.

3. speak to

   1. to address or respond to, as in speech or action.

      The legislature must speak to the issue of gun violence.

   2. to be appealing or relevant to.

      His music speaks to me on a very deep level.

   3. to provide evidence for.

      Our company’s rapid growth speaks to the passion and commitment of our employees.

-speak

²

1. 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.

speak

¹

/ spiːk /

verb

1. to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)

2. to communicate or express (something) in or as if in words

   I speak the truth

3. (intr) to deliver a speech, discourse, etc

4. (tr) to know how to talk in (a language or dialect)

   he does not speak German

5. (intr) to make a characteristic sound

   the clock spoke

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

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

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

9. to be a representative or advocate (of)

   he speaks for all the members

10. on good terms; friendly

11. in a manner of speaking; as it were

12. to express one's opinions frankly and plainly

13. of a significant or worthwhile nature

    we have had no support to speak of

-speak

²

suffix

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

   computerspeak

Other Word Forms

• speakable adjective
• speakableness noun
• speakably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of speak¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of speak¹

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

Origin of speak²

C20: formed on the pattern of _newspeak

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. speak well for, to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to.

   Her manners speak well for her upbringing.

2. to speak of, worth mentioning.

   The country has no mineral resources to speak of.

3. so to speak, to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking.

   We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.

4. speak by the book, to say with great authority or precision.

   I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.

More idioms and phrases containing speak

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

And as a lifelong horror fan who speaks nostalgically of watching 1970s films such as “The Wicker Man,” “The Omen” and “The Exorcist” with his parents, Halloween Horror Nights is especially dear to Slash’s heart.

From Los Angeles Times

Ballmer couldn’t explain why Leonard did no marketing or endorsement work for Aspiration, telling Shelburne that he never spoke with the player about his deal with the company.

From Los Angeles Times

As much as their codependent friendship brings them closer, when spoken to at the same time, Roman and Dennis always differ in their answers, evincing an underlying disconnect.

From Los Angeles Times

But speaking at her party's UK conference in Birmingham, Laura Anne Jones questioned whether the Welsh Parliament should continue if Reform could not make it "work for Wales".

From BBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke "at length" with the parents of both men following the video's release, according to a statement from his office.

From BBC

Related Words

• chat 
• communicate 
• convey 
• declare 
• deliver 
• express 
• go 
• say 
• shout 
• tell 
• utter 
• voice 
• whisper 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of speak?

Speak means to talk, to give a lecture or speech, or to use your voice to say something. The word speak has many other senses as a verb and is used in several idioms.Speak is a synonym of talk and means to use words and sounds to communicate. When humans speak with each other, we use language governed by rules to understand each other.Some birds, such as parrots and ravens, are able to imitate human voices. While they don’t actually understand the words they use, we still say these animals are able to speak.

• Real-life examples: It is very unlikely that you never speak to people. Some people use sign language to communicate because they are unable to speak. If you have a cold or sore throat, it is harder to speak.



• Used in a sentence: My throat hurts, so I am having trouble speaking. 

If someone speaks at an event, they are giving a lecture or speech there. Special guests or honorary lecturers often speak at colleges, scientific conventions, or award ceremonies.

• Used in a sentence: I was in the audience when the president spoke at our college. 

When used as a transitive verb, speak means to use your voice to express something or to say something.

• Real-life examples: Witnesses at trials are expected to speak the truth. In the past, in many countries it was often dangerous to speak against God or the country’s religion. People from France speak French.



• Used in a sentence: I knew the right answer, but I was too nervous to speak the words.

When To Use

What does -speak mean?

The combining form -speak is used like a suffix meaning “a way of talking” or "a variety of language." Often, it has a derogatory, or negative, connotation. It is occasionally used in a variety of informal or slang terms.The form -speak is derived from the word newspeak, from George Orwell's book 1984 (1949). Newspeak is the term Orwell coined to describe the way official language often "say[s] one thing in the guise of its opposite, especially in order to serve a political or ideological cause while pretending to be objective." Put simply, it is language used for propaganda, such as describing a forced labor camp as a "joycamp."