speak

verb

1. express in speech; “She talks a lot of nonsense”; “This depressed patient does not verbalize”

   Synonyms

   • talk, utter, mouth, verbalize, verbalise

   Less specific

   • communicate, intercommunicate

   More specific

   • read, vocalize, vocalise, phonate, troll, begin, lip off, shoot one's mouth off, shout, whisper, peep, speak up, snap, snarl, enthuse (more) , speak in tongues, swallow, verbalize, verbalise, whiff, talk of, talk about, blubber, blubber out, drone, drone on, bumble, stutter, stammer, falter, rasp, blurt out, blurt, blunder out, blunder, ejaculate, tone, inflect, modulate, deliver, present, generalize, generalise, chatter, piffle, palaver, prate, tittle-tattle, twaddle, clack, maunder, prattle, blab, gibber, tattle, blabber, gabble, chatter, yack, jaw, yack away, rattle on, yap away, open up, snivel, whine, murmur, mumble, mutter, maunder, mussitate, slur, bark, bay, rant, mouth off, jabber, spout, rabbit on, rave, hiss, sizz, siss, sibilate, cackle, babble, tone, chant, intone, gulp, sing

   See also

   • rant, mouth off, jabber, spout, rabbit on, rave, speak up

2. exchange thoughts; talk with; “We often talk business”; “Actions talk louder than words”

   Synonyms

   • talk

   Less specific

   • communicate, intercommunicate

   More specific

   • continue, go on, carry on, proceed, hold forth, discourse, dissertate, pontificate, orate, talk down, spiel, dogmatize, dogmatise, cheek, level (more) , talk turkey, monologuize, monologuise, soliloquize, soliloquise, converse, discourse, chat up, flirt, dally, butterfly, coquet, coquette, romance, philander, mash, dish the dirt, gossip, rap

   See also

   • speak for

3. use language; “the baby talks already”; “the prisoner won’t speak”; “they speak a strange dialect”

   Synonyms

   • talk

   Less specific

   • communicate, intercommunicate

   More specific

   • run on, smatter, slang

4. give a speech to; “The chairman addressed the board of trustees”

   Synonyms

   • address

   More specific

   • blaze away, memorialize, memorialise, keynote, harangue

   Entails

   • speak, talk

5. make a characteristic or natural sound; “The drums spoke”

   Less specific

   • sound