speak

¹

[ speek ]

verb (used without object)

, spoke or (Archaic) spake [speyk]; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

1. to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk:

   He was too ill to speak.

2. to communicate vocally; mention:

   to speak to a person about various matters.

3. to converse:

   She spoke with him for an hour.

4. to deliver an address, discourse, etc.:

   to speak at a meeting.

5. to make a statement in written or printed words.
6. to communicate, signify, or disclose something by any means; convey significance:

   The voters have spoken loud and clear.

7. Phonetics. to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, especially through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.
8. (of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.
9. to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.
10. Chiefly British. (of dogs) to bark when ordered.
11. Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.

verb (used with object)

, spoke or (Archaic) spake [speyk]; spo·ken or (Archaic) spoke; speak·ing.

1. to utter vocally and articulately:

   to speak words of praise.

   Synonyms: articulate, pronounce

2. to express or make known with the voice:

   to speak the truth.

   Synonyms: say

3. to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.
4. to make known, indicate, or reveal.

   Synonyms: disclose

5. to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language:

   to speak French.

6. (of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.
7. Nautical. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal:

   We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

8. Archaic. to speak to or with.

verb phrase

1. to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly:

   He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.

2. 1. to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.
   2. to express or articulate the views of; represent.
   3. to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself:

      This item is already spoken for.

3. 1. to address or respond to, as in speech or action:

      The legislature must speak to the issue of gun violence.

   2. to be appealing or relevant to:

      His music speaks to me on a very deep level.

   3. to provide evidence for:

      Our company’s rapid growth speaks to the passion and commitment of our employees.

-speak

²

1. a combining form extracted from newspeak (coined by George Orwell in his novel, 1984 ), used in the formation of compound words, usually derogatory, derisive, or facetious, that denote the style or vocabulary of a discipline, person, era, etc., as specified by the initial element:

   techspeak; artspeak; nukespeak; leetspeak; geek-speak.

speak

¹

/ spiːk /

verb

1. to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)
2. to communicate or express (something) in or as if in words

   I speak the truth

3. intr to deliver a speech, discourse, etc
4. tr to know how to talk in (a language or dialect)

   he does not speak German

5. intr to make a characteristic sound

   the clock spoke

6. intr (of dogs, esp hounds used in hunting) to give tongue; bark
7. tr nautical to hail and converse or communicate with (another vessel) at sea
8. intr (of a musical instrument) to produce a sound
9. intrfoll byfor to be a representative or advocate (of)

   he speaks for all the members

10. on speaking terms
    on good terms; friendly
11. so to speak
    in a manner of speaking; as it were
12. speak one's mind
    to express one's opinions frankly and plainly
13. to speak of
    of a significant or worthwhile nature

    we have had no support to speak of

-speak

²

suffix forming nouns

1. informal.
   the language or jargon of a specific group, organization, or field

   computerspeak

Derived Forms

• ˈspeakable, adjective

Other Words From

• speak·a·ble adjective
• speak·a·ble·ness noun
• speak·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of speak¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English speken, Old English specan, variant of sprecan; cognate with German sprechen ( Old High German sprehhan; compare variant spehhan )

Word History and Origins

Origin of speak¹

Old English specan; related to Old High German spehhan, Middle High German spechten to gossip, Middle Dutch speken; see speech

Origin of speak²

C20: formed on the pattern of newspeak

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. so to speak, to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking:

   We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.

2. speak by the book, to say with great authority or precision:

   I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.

3. speak well for, to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to:

   Her manners speak well for her upbringing.

4. to speak of, worth mentioning:

   The country has no mineral resources to speak of.

More idioms and phrases containing speak

• actions speak louder than words
• in a manner of speaking
• nothing to speak of
• not to mention (speak of)
• on speaking terms
• so to speak
• to speak of

Synonym Study

Speak, converse, talk mean to make vocal sounds, usually for purposes of communication. To speak often implies conveying information and may apply to anything from an informal remark to a scholarly presentation to a formal address: to speak sharply; to speak before Congress. To converse is to exchange ideas with someone by speaking: to converse with a friend. To talk is a close synonym for to speak but usually refers to less formal situations: to talk about the weather; to talk with a friend.

Example Sentences

"It's taken 35 years to speak, that's how frightened I've been of speaking," she says.

From BBC

"I want to stand up for victims of abuse, whether corporate or domestic, to let them know that they can speak up too."

From BBC

“You realize he didn’t speak out loud during that day. Human beings are meant to be convivial and social — the default setting for a lot of us is that we need other people around. Ted’s character Charles is a guy who’s still perfectly vibrant, very sharp, alive in the world, but his life has just gotten very small. And the question is — for him and for the audience — can he go through something that makes him see the value in living a bigger life?”

From Los Angeles Times

Stressing "I do not speak as a Labour person", he said "any government of any colour would have been forced to make that decision, or something very like that decision, at that particular time".

From BBC

In newly released audio recorded while he was in jail and featured in a new documentary, Manson appears to speak about previously unknown killings.

From BBC

Related Words

• chat
• communicate
• convey
• declare
• deliver
• express
• go
• say
• shout
• tell
• utter
• voice
• whisper