conversation

[ kon-ver-sey-shuhn ]

noun

1. 1. informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk:

      how to master the art of conversation.

   2. such interchange by sign language, email, or other nonoral means of communication:

      I enjoy our time on the phone, but she prefers conversation by texting.

   3. an instance of this:

      I had a long phone conversation with my cousin in Florida.

   Synonyms: colloquy, chat, dialogue

2. an informal public exchange of ideas or opinions about a particular issue; a dialogue:

   It’s time for a global conversation about the epidemic.

3. association or social intercourse:

   a year's conversation with him as his caregiver and friend.

4. criminal conversation.
5. the ability to talk socially with others:

   She writes well but has no conversation.

6. Obsolete.
   1. behavior or manner of living.
   2. close familiarity; intimate acquaintance, as from constant use or study.

conversation

/ ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃən /

noun

1. the interchange through speech of information, ideas, etc; spoken communication
2. make conversation
   to talk in an artificial way

Other Words From

• pre·con·ver·sa·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conversation¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English conversacio(u)n, from Latin conversātiōn- (stem of conversātiō ) “familiarity, conduct, behavior,” equivalent to conversāt(us), past participle of conversārī “to associate with” + -iōn- noun suffix; converse ¹, -ion

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with conversation , also see make conversation .

Example Sentences

But with “Bird,” which deploys the splendid vérité intimacy of her longtime cinematographer Robbie Ryan, Arnold seems intent on explicitly acknowledging a debt to Loach, forging an exuberantly poetic conversation with the director’s boy-and-his-falcon 1969 classic “Kes.”

From Los Angeles Times

Their conversation was in Arabic, and Helen says all she could hear "was them laughing to each other".

From BBC

In this way, he was also like Tanton, Taylor said in a subsequent conversation, who found his own “quasi-racial consciousness” through his environmental enlightenment.

From Salon

For his own show, “Greater Bakersfield,” which he records in a studio next to his office in West Hollywood, Yoakam invites musicians and other cultural figures to join him in conversation, close listening and song.

From Los Angeles Times

Outspent in the general election and subjected to an onslaught of negative ads and mailers and headlines in the weeks leading up to election day, she nevertheless trounced De León, a Latino political giant now reduced to a cautionary tale after his fall from grace for his role in a secretly recorded conversation that upended L.A. politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chat
• comment
• communication
• conference
• consultation
• debate
• discussion
• exchange
• gossip
• hearing
• observation
• questioning
• remark
• speech
• talk
• visit