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talk

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verb American English pronunciation: talk /tɔk/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theytalk
he/she/ittalks
present participletalking
past tensetalked
past participletalked
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive] to use words to communicate

    Can their baby talk yet?

    Am I talking too much?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
    1. a.
      to have a conversation with other people

      They were all talking and laughing together.

      talk to:

      I need to talk to you.

      talk with:

      Everyone was busily talking with their friends.

      talk about:

      We were talking about you just last night.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
    2. b.
      if a bird talks, it produces sounds like words

      I've taught my parrot to talk.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
  2. 2
    [intransitive] to discuss a problem, especially to avoid arguments or fighting

    You and I need to talk.

    My wife and I aren't talking these days.

    talk to:

    You kids never talk to me (=discuss anything important with me).

    keep talking:

    Officials agreed Monday to keep talking despite the latest crisis.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
    1. a.
      [transitive] to discuss a subject
      talk politics/sports/religion etc.:

      He spoiled the evening by talking politics all the time.

      talk tactics:

      OK, that's our goal. Now let's talk actual tactics.

      talking of something (=used after a subject has been mentioned in a conversation to introduce a discussion of it):

      Oh yes, talking of Harry, have you seen him recently?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
    2. b.
      [intransitive] to discuss other people's private lives

      You can't stay here – the neighbors would talk.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
  3. 3
    [intransitive] to give a lecture on a subject
    talk on/about:

    In the hall a woman was talking on diet and health.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
  4. 4
    [intransitive] to give information that someone thinks should be secret

    Do you think the prisoners will talk?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk
  6. 6
    [intransitive] if a machine talks to another machine, it sends information to that machine

    The software enables the two computers to talk.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of talk

phrases

See also

This is the American English definition of talk. View British English definition of talk.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

 

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