SPEAKING Definition & Meaning

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speaking

[ spee-king ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act, utterance, or discourse of a person who speaks.
speakings, literary works composed for recitation, as ancient bardic poetry; oral literature.

adjective

that speaks.
used in, suited to, or involving speaking or talking:
the speaking voice.
of or relating to declamation.
giving information as if by speech:
a speaking proof of a thing.
highly expressive:
speaking eyes.
lifelike:
a speaking likeness.

speaking

/ ˈ��辱ː��ɪŋ /

adjective

prenominal eloquent, impressive, or striking
1. able to speak
2. in combination able to speak a particular language
  French-speaking

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��𲹰�i�Բ�·�� adverb
��𲹰�i�Բ�·�Ա�� noun
�Դǲ�·��𲹰�i�Բ� adjective
�ɱ��-��𲹰�i�Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of speaking¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; speak, -ing ¹, -ing ²

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Idioms and Phrases

not on speaking terms, not or no longer in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication, as because of resentment or estrangement:
They had a squabble during the holidays, and now they're not on speaking terms.
on speaking terms,
1. in a relationship close enough for or limited to friendly superficialities:
  I don't know the hosts well, but we are certainly on speaking terms.
2. in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication:
  Now that the debt has been settled, I hope you and your partner are on speaking terms again.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Broadly speaking, the whole world, and the countries within it, are better off, if everyone specialises in what they are best at, and then trades freely.

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The Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper last month ran a headline stating that US and Russian officials had "started speaking the same language".

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The shoppers and businesses I've been speaking to are understandably feeling very shocked.

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Tarkowski was seen speaking to Mac Allister on the pitch at the final whistle and said the Argentina international had accepted his apology.

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She is speaking to BBC News from the Bus Stop Theatre, an intimate auditorium with a little under 100 seats, in the eastern city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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