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Meaning of talk in English:

talk

Pronunciation /tɔːk/ 

See synonyms for talk

Translate talk into Spanish

VERB

[NO OBJECT]

  • 1Speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words.

    ‘the two men talked’
    1. 1.1Have the power of speech.
      ‘he can talk as well as you or I can’
    2. 1.2Discuss personal or intimate feelings.
      ‘we need to talk, Maggie’
    3. 1.3with object and adverbial Persuade or cause (someone) to do something by talking.
      ‘keep on walking and talk your way out of it’
    4. 1.4be talkinginformal with object Used to emphasize the seriousness, importance, or extent of the thing one is discussing.
    5. 1.5Reveal secret or confidential information.
      ‘dead men can't talk’
    6. 1.6Gossip.
      ‘you'll have the whole school talking’

  • 2Have formal dealings or discussions; negotiate.

    ‘they won't talk to the regime that killed their families’

  • 3with object Use (a particular language) in speech.

    ‘we were talking German’

NOUN

  • 1mass noun Communication by spoken words; conversation or discussion.

    ‘there was a slight but noticeable lull in the talk’
    1. 1.1count noun A period of conversation or discussion, especially a relatively serious one.
      ‘my mother had a talk with Louis’
    2. 1.2Rumour, gossip, or speculation.
      ‘there is talk of an armistice’
    3. 1.3Empty promises or boasting.
      ‘he's all talk’
    4. 1.4the talk ofA current subject of widespread gossip or speculation in (a particular place)
      ‘within days I was the talk of the town’

  • 2talksFormal discussions or negotiations over a period.

    ‘peace talks’

  • 3An informal address or lecture.

    ‘a thirty-minute illustrated talk’

Phrases

    look who's talking

    • Used to convey that a criticism made applies equally well to the person who has made it.

    talk the hind leg off a donkey
    British informal

    • Talk incessantly.

    talk sense into

    • Persuade (someone) to behave more sensibly.

      ‘just as well she's coming; she might be able to talk some sense into you’
    you can talk
    informal

    • Used to convey that a criticism made applies equally well to the person who has made it.

    don't talk to me about —
    informal

    • Said in protest when someone introduces a subject of which the speaker has had bitter personal experience.

    know what one is talking about

    • Be expert or authoritative on a particular subject.

      ‘I know what I'm talking about—I've built up three businesses from scratch’
    talk out of one's arse
    vulgar slang

    • Talk foolishly, wildly, or ignorantly.

    talk through one's hat
    informal

    • Talk foolishly, wildly, or ignorantly.

    talk about —!
    informal

    • Used to emphasize that something is an extreme or striking example of a particular situation, state, or experience.

    talk the talk
    informal

    • Speak fluently or convincingly about something or in a way intended to please or impress others.

    talk cock
    South East Asian

    • Say things that are stupid or untrue.

    talk a good game
    informal

    • Speak fluently or convincingly about something without necessarily matching one's words with actions.

Phrasal Verbs

    talk up

    • talk someone or something up, talk up someone or somethingDiscuss someone or something in a way that makes them seem more interesting or attractive.

      ‘he is talking up the company to stock analysts’
    talk into

    • talk someone into somethingPersuade someone to do something that they are unwilling to do.

      ‘don't try to talk me into acting as a go-between’
    talk down

    • talk someone or something down, talk down someone or somethingDiscuss someone or something in a way that makes them seem less interesting or attractive.

    talk down to

    • talk down to someoneSpeak patronizingly or condescendingly to someone.

      ‘there's an art to informing people without talking down or pandering to them’
    talk back

    • Reply defiantly or insolently.

      ‘all children talk back and act up from time to time’
    talk out

    • 1talk something out, talk out somethingDiscuss something thoroughly in order to solve a problem or reach a conclusion.

    • 2talk something out, talk out somethingBritish (in Parliament) block the course of a bill by prolonging discussion to the time of adjournment.

      ‘they talked the bill out, so there was no vote’
    talk out of

    • talk someone out of somethingPersuade someone not to do something unwise.

    talk to

    • talk to someoneReprimand or scold someone.

      ‘someone will have to talk to Lily’
    talk at

    • talk at someoneAddress someone in a hectoring or self-important way without listening to their replies.

      ‘he never talked at you’
    talk over

    • talk something over, talk over somethingDiscuss something thoroughly.

      ‘Collins wanted to talk over our arrangements for doing the work’
    talk round

    • talk someone round, talk round someoneBring someone to a particular point of view by talking.

      ‘you could never talk him round, he was very decided’
    talk through

    • 1talk something through, talk through somethingDiscuss something thoroughly.

    • 2talk someone through somethingEnable someone to perform a task by giving them continuous instruction.

      ‘the two presenters talk you through hanging different types of paper’

Origin

Middle English frequentative verb from the Germanic base of tale or tell.