talk
talk Lexical Profile
talk Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An informal conversation or discussion between two or more people.
"We had a long talk about our plans for the upcoming summer."
An address or lecture delivered to an audience, typically in an informal or accessible style.
"The visiting professor gave an engaging talk on renewable energy technologies."
Formal negotiations or discussions between representatives of governments, organizations, or opposing parties (usually used in the plural).
"Peace talks between the two nations resumed in Geneva this morning."
Rumors, gossip, or idle speculation circulating among a group of people.
"There has been a lot of talk about a potential merger between the two companies."
• verb
To speak in order to give information, express ideas, or converse with others.
"They sat in the cafe and talked for hours about their favorite books."
To discuss a particular topic, issue, or professional field.
"The executives met over lunch to talk business and review the quarterly budget."
To persuade or influence someone to do or stop doing something by speaking to them (used with prepositions such as 'into' or 'out of').
"Her friends managed to talk her into applying for the scholarship."
To reveal confidential or secret information, especially under questioning or pressure.
"The investigators hoped the witness would finally agree to talk."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'talk' and 'speak' are largely interchangeable, 'talk' usually emphasizes an interactive, informal conversation between people, whereas 'speak' is preferred for formal contexts, one-way addresses, and referring to proficiency in languages (e.g., 'She speaks French').
• Rhymes for talk
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English talken, a frequentative verb derived from the Old English root talian ('to reckon, recount, or tell'), sharing the same Germanic root as 'tale' and 'tell'.