Speak

Pronunciation

• enPR: spÄ“k, IPA: /spiːk/
• Rhymes: -iːk

Origin

From Middle English speken ("to speak"), from Old English specan ("to speak"), alteration of earlier sprecan ("to speak"), from Proto-Germanic *sprekanÄ… ("to speak, make a sound"), from Proto-Indo-European *spreg- ("to make a sound, utter, speak"). Cognate with West Frisian sprekke, Low German spreken ("to speak"), Dutch spreken ("to speak"), German sprechen ("to speak"), and also with Albanian shpreh ("to utter, voice, express") through Indo-European.

Full definition of speak

Verb

1. (intransitive) To communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud.
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 13, And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them.
2. I was so surprised I couldn't speak.   You're speaking too fast.
3. (intransitive) To have a conversation.
   It's been ages since we've spoken.
4. (by extension) To communicate or converse by some means other than orally, such as writing or facial expressions.
   He spoke of it in his diary.   Speak to me only with your eyes.   I just spoke with them on IRC.   Actions speak louder than words.
5. (intransitive) To deliver a message to a group; to deliver a speech.
   This evening I shall speak on the topic of correct English usage.
6. (transitive) To be able to communicate in a language.
   He speaks Mandarin fluently.
7. (transitive) To utter.
• 1611, Authorized King James Version (Bible translation), Book of Jeremiah 9:5:And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
8. I was so surprised that I couldn't speak a word.
9. (transitive) To communicate (some fact or feeling); to bespeak, to indicate.
• 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:There he sat, his very indifference speaking a nature in which there lurked no civilized hypocrisies and bland deceits.
10. (informal, transitive, sometimes humorous) To understand (as though it were a language).
    Sorry, I don't speak idiot.   So you can program in C. But do you speak C++?
11. (intransitive) To produce a sound; to sound.
• ShakespeareMake all our trumpets speak.
12. (transitive, archaic) To address; to accost; to speak to.
• Bible, Ecclus. xiii. 6will thee in hope; he will speak thee fair.
• EmersonEach village senior paused to scan
  And speak the lovely caravan.

Synonyms

• articulate, talk, verbalize

Derived terms

Related terms

• speech

Noun

1. language, jargon, or terminology used uniquely in a particular environment or group.Corporate speak; IT speak

Derived terms

Noun

1. (dated) a low class bar, a speakeasy.

Anagrams

• spake
• peaks