speak */*/*/

UK [spiːk] / US [spɪk] verb
Word forms "speak":
present tense I/you/we/they speak he/she/it speaks present participle speaking past tense spoke UK [spəʊk] / US [spoʊk] past participle spoken UK [ˈspəʊkən] / US [ˈspoʊkən]

1)

a) [intransitive] to talk to someone about something

speak to:

I phoned your office and spoke to your assistant.

speak with:

Let me speak with Jennifer and see what she thinks.

speak of:

People spoke of their fear as the flood waters rose.

speak about:

He spoke movingly about his son's struggle with cancer.

b) to talk about something in a particular way

Let me speak frankly.

2) [intransitive] to use your voice to talk

There was a long pause before she spoke again.

He spoke so softly it was difficult to hear what he said.

3) [transitive] to be able to talk in a particular language

Do you speak Chinese?

He speaks three languages.

4) [intransitive] to give a formal speech

speak at:

The local MP will be speaking at our graduation ceremony.

speak to:

Petersen spoke to an audience of 2,000 at the conference.

5) [intransitive/transitive] to express your ideas, thoughts, or opinions about something

speak against/in favour of:

Only a small group of people dared to speak against the war.

speak well/highly of someone (= say good things about someone):

Yvonne has spoken so highly of you.

speak badly/ill of someone (= say bad things about someone):

You shouldn't speak ill of your father.

6)

a) [intransitive] to speak to someone on the telephone

"Who's speaking?" "This is Mark Richards speaking."

b) used for telling someone who has called you on the telephone and has asked to talk to you that they are speaking to the right person

"Is Janey there, please?" "Speaking."

•

broadly/generally speaking — used for showing that what you are saying is usually true, but not in every instance

Generally speaking, pet owners are law-abiding citizens.

no ... to speak of — used for saying that something is so unimportant or so small that it is not worth mentioning

She has no money to speak of.

speak well for/of — to show that something is correct or effective

The lower crime rate speaks well for the police department's new strategy.

- not on speaking terms

- so to speak

- speak for itself

- speak for yourself

- speaking as someone

- speaking of

- speak your mind

- speak volumes

Phrasal verbs:

- speak for

- speak of

- speak out

- speak to

- speak up

- speak up for

See:

action, turn II