talk

1 of 2

verb

ˈtȯk 

talked; talking; talks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words or sign language : converse

b

: to convey information or communicate in any way (as with signs or sounds)

can make a trumpet talk

make the computer talk to the printer

2

: to use (a language) for conversing or communicating : speak

… the peculiar French patois that he talked.

—Aaron Copland

3

a

: to speak idly : prate

b

: gossip

c

: to reveal secret or confidential information

4

: to give a talk : lecture

transitive

1

: to deliver or express in speech : utter

2

: to make the subject of conversation or discourse : discuss

talk business

3

: to influence, affect, or cause by talking

talked them into going

4

: to use (a language) for conversing or communicating : speak

talker noun

plural talkers

talk

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act or an instance of talking : speech

2

: a way of speaking : language

3

: pointless or fruitless discussion : verbiage

4

: a formal discussion, negotiation, or exchange of views

—often used in plural

5

a

: mention, report

b

: rumor, gossip

6

: the topic of interested comment, conversation, or gossip

it's the talk of the town

7

a

: address, lecture

b

: written analysis or discussion presented in an informal or conversational manner

8

: communicative sounds or signs resembling or functioning as talk

bird talk

Phrases

talk back

: to answer impertinently

talk sense

: to voice rational, logical, or sensible thoughts

talk through one's hat

: to voice irrational, illogical, or erroneous ideas

talk turkey

: to speak frankly or bluntly

Synonyms

Verb

• declaim
• descant
• discourse
• expatiate
• harangue
• lecture
• orate
• speak

Noun

• address
• declamation
• harangue
• oration
• peroration
• speech

Examples of talk in a Sentence

Verb

She never talks at the meetings.

He did most of the talking during dinner.

He loves to hear himself talk.

I think she's talking a lot of nonsense.

I can't talk right now. I'm running late.

They were talking in Spanish.

We talked on the phone until midnight.

Both sides in the dispute are now willing to talk.

They are in the conference room talking business.

She had laryngitis and couldn't talk.

Noun

the noted author's talk on the state of the modern novel

what good will all this talk do when we need to take action now?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Did either of you attempt to talk them out of that strategy? —Michael Ausiello, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024

He could be seen talking former teammate Logan Webb before the game. —Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024

Colby Trickle agreed to sit down and talk to investigators without a lawyer on several occasions. —Iris Carreras, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2024

The other defendants have been appointed attorneys, who have a policy of not talking to the media. —USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, Chandra advocates are encouraging people to talk to their government representatives, sign a community letter, and spread the word on social media with resources available on the Save Chandra Website. —Briley Lewis, Popular Science, 25 Apr. 2024

Staffers at The Point, the school’s feisty student newspaper, declined to talk publicly about these controversies. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024

The team and the National Hockey League aren't talking yet, but Salt Lake City and a prospective owner hungry for a franchise are rolling out the red carpet. —The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024

Scott and Maddi were talking, Scott says, when Fravel appeared in the background and began shouting at Maddi. —Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2024

Noun

In 2022 Elliott held talks with Kinross Gold Corp. that resulted in the miner announcing a $300 million share buyback. —Crystal Tse, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile China will also host senior leaders from Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas next week for further talks, designed to help heal a long-running political dispute between the two factions that had until Oct. 7 ruled respectively over Gaza and the West Bank. —Willem Marx, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024

But the college said there was no deadline and instead talks continue and some concessions had been agreed. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

In an update late yesterday, the university said talks between student protesters and the school have shown progress are our continuing. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024

After an immensely troubled production, World War Z grossed over $500 million worldwide and spawned sequel talks for years before those plans were ultimately scuttled. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2024

Read More: Malaysia’s Defining Political Tension Takes the Concert Stage Gilley tells TIME over email that his talk, one of several during a 10-day visiting professorship, was on Malaysian foreign policy. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024

His braggadocios assist embodied everything that people loved about the Memphis rapper – brimming with boisterous boss talk and a peek into his raunchy romantic ways. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2024

The talk among some festivalgoers ahead of Coachella suggested that this year’s lineup might underwhelm, but the number of stars joining their friends onstage surely helped with that. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Old English talu tale

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing talk

• all talk
• all talk and no action
• baby talk
• back talk
• chalk talk
• cross talk
• double-talk
• fast-talk
• fine one to talk
• happy talk
• pep talk
• pillow talk
• real talk
• self-talk
• smack talk
• small talk
• speak/talk of the devil
• speak/talk the same language
• speak/talk with (a) forked tongue
• straight talk
• street talk
• sweet talk
• table talk
• talk a blue streak
• talk about
• talk a good game
• talk around
• talk at
• talk back
• talk down
• talk down to
• talk into
• talk is cheap
• talk nineteen to the dozen
• talk of
• talk (oneself) out of (something)
• talk one's way
• talk one's way out of (something)
• talk out
• talk out of
• talk over
• talk radio
• talk round
• talk sense
• talk shop
• talk show
• talk someone's ear off
• talk (some) sense into/to
• talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
• talk therapy
• talk the talk
• talk through
• talk through one's hat
• talk tough
• talk trash
• talk turkey
• talk up
• talk your head off
• the talk of the town
• trash talk

Kids Definition

talk

1 of 2 verb

ˈtȯk 

1

: to express in speech

talk sense

2

: to speak about : discuss

talk business

3

: to influence, affect, or cause by talking

talked us into agreeing

4

: to use for communicating

talk sign language

5

a

: to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words

b

: to communicate in any way

the computer talks to the printer

6

a

: to spread gossip

b

: to reveal secret information

tried to make the suspect talk

talker noun

talk

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or an instance of talking

2

: a way of speaking

3

: pointless or useless discussion

all talk and no action

4

: a formal discussion or exchange of views : conference

5

: rumor entry 1 sense 1, gossip

6

: the topic of comment or gossip

it's the talk of the town