- 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 somethingspeak to:speak with:I phoned your office and spoke to your assistant.
speak of:Let me speak with Jennifer and see what she thinks.
speak about:People spoke of their fear as the flood waters rose.
He spoke movingly about his son's struggle with cancer.
b) to talk about something in a particular wayLet me speak frankly.
2) [intransitive] to use your voice to talkThere 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 languageDo you speak Chinese?
He speaks three languages.
4) [intransitive] to give a formal speechspeak at:speak to:The local MP will be speaking at our graduation ceremony.
Petersen spoke to an audience of 2,000 at the conference.
5) [intransitive/transitive] to express your ideas, thoughts, or opinions about somethingspeak against/in favour of:speak well/highly of someone (= say good things about someone):Only a small group of people dared to speak against the war.
speak badly/ill of someone (= say bad things about someone):Yvonne has spoken so highly of you.
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 instanceGenerally 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 mentioningShe has no money to speak of.
speak well for/of
— to show that something is correct or effectivePhrasal verbs:The lower crime rate speaks well for the police department's new strategy.
- speak of- speak to- speak upSee:action, turn II
English dictionary. 2014.