speak

speak [spēk]

vi.

spoke, spoken, speaking [ME speken < OE specan, earlier sprecan, akin to Ger sprechen < IE base * sp(h)er(e)-g-, to strew, sprinkle > SPARK¹, L spargere, to sprinkle: basic sense “to scatter (words)”]

1. to utter words with the ordinary voice; talk

2. to express or communicate opinions, feelings, ideas, etc. by or as by talking [speak in our behalf, actions speak louder than words]

3. to make a request or reservation (for): usually in the passive voice [a seat not yet spoken for]

4. to make a speech; deliver an address or lecture; discourse

5. to be a spokesman (for)

6. to talk with another or others; converse

7. to make or give out sound, as a gun firing or a dog barking

vt.

1. to express or make known by or as by speaking

2. to use or be able to use (a given language) in speaking

3. to utter (words) orally

4. Archaic to speak to; address

5. Archaic to declare or show to be; reveal

6. Naut. to hail (a ship)

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so to speak

in a manner of speaking; that is to say

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speak for itself

to be self-evident

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speak out or speak up

1. to speak audibly or clearly

2. to speak freely or forcefully

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speak to

to respond to, deal with, fulfill, etc. [the decision speaks to the needs of everyone involved]

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speak well for

to say or indicate something favorable about

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to speak of

worthy of mention [no gains to speak of]

speakable

adj.

SYN.- SPEAK and TALK are generally synonymous, but SPEAK often connotes formal address to an auditor or audience [who will speak at the dinner? ] and TALK often suggests informal colloquial conversation [we were talking at dinner ]; CONVERSE¹ suggests a talking together by two or more people so as to exchange ideas and information [they are conversing in the parlor ]; DISCOURSE suggests a somewhat formal, detailed, extensive talking to another or others [she was discoursing to us on Keats ]