Definition: Speech
Etymology
From Middle English speche, from Old English spǣċ, sprǣċ (speech, discourse, language), from Proto-West Germanic *sprÄku (speech, language), from Proto-Indo-European *spereg-, *spreg- (to make a sound). Cognate with Dutch spraak (speech), German Sprache (language, speech).
Noun
speech (countable and uncountable, plural speeches)
- (uncountable) The ability to speak; the faculty of uttering words or articulate sounds and vocalizations to communicate.
- He had a bad speech impediment.
- After the accident she lost her speech.
- (uncountable) The act of speaking, a certain style of it.
- It was hard to hear his speech over the noise.
- Her speech was soft and lilting.
- (countable) A formal session of speaking, especially a long oral message given publicly by one person.
- The candidate made some ambitious promises in his campaign speech.
- (countable) A dialect or vernacular.
- Language used orally, rather than in writing.
- This word is mostly used in speech.
- (grammar) An utterance that is quoted, such as direct speech and reported speech.
- (uncountable) Public talk, news, gossip, rumor.
Derived terms
- acceptance speech
- avoidance speech
- figure of speech
- freedom of speech
- free speech
- part of speech
- plain speech
- speech balloon
- speech bubble
- speech disorder
- speech impediment
- speechless
- speech synthesis
- speech therapy
Related terms
- speak
Verb
speech (third-person singular simple present speeches, present participle speeching, simple past and past participle speeched)
- To make a speech; to harangue.
Credits
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