1. The utterance of intelligible speech
   "The speech therapist worked on improving the patient's speaking";
   - speech production
    
2. Delivering an address to a public audience
   "She took classes in public speaking to overcome her fear of addressing large crowds";
   - public speaking, speechmaking, oral presentation

1. Capable of or involving speech or speaking
   "human beings — the speaking animals"; "a speaking part in the play"
    
2. Capable of speech
   "the speaking animal";
   - speech-endowed

1. Express in speech
   "She speaks a lot of nonsense";
   - talk, utter, mouth, verbalize, verbalise [Brit]
    
2. Use language
   "the prisoner won't speak"; "they speak a strange dialect";
   - talk
    
3. Exchange thoughts; convey ideas
   "The diplomats spoke for hours about the treaty";
   - talk
    
4. Give a speech to
   "The politician spoke to the crowd";
   - address
    
5. Make a characteristic or natural sound
   "The drums spoke"

Derived forms: speakings

See also: articulate, speak up, tongued

Type of: address, communicate, express, give tongue to, intercommunicate, sound, speech, utter, utterance, verbalise [Brit], verbalize, vocalization

Antonym: nonspeaking

Encyclopedia: Speaking