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⇱ speech - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

speech

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈspiːtʃ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/spitʃ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(spēch)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
speech /spitʃ/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. the ability or power to speak:[uncountable]A child may not gain the power of speech if he or she is not exposed to it at an early age.
  2. the act of speaking:[uncountable]Speech was not necessary between them; they understood each other with just one look.
  3. a form of communication in spoken language, made by a speaker before an audience:[countable]The mayor gave five speeches in five different parts of the city.
  4. Linguistics the manner of speaking of a particular people or region;
    a language or dialect:[uncountable]His speech gave him away: he's from New England.
  5. manner of speaking of a certain person:[uncountable]He showed signs of drunkenness: slurred speech and unsteady walking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
speech  (spēch),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the faculty or power of speaking;
    oral communication;
    ability to express one's thoughts and emotions by speech sounds and gesture:Losing her speech made her feel isolated from humanity.
  2. the act of speaking:He expresses himself better in speech than in writing.
  3. something that is spoken;
    an utterance, remark, or declaration:We waited for some speech that would indicate her true feelings.
  4. a form of communication in spoken language, made by a speaker before an audience for a given purpose:a fiery speech.
  5. Show Businessany single utterance of an actor in the course of a play, motion picture, etc.
  6. Linguisticsthe form of utterance characteristic of a particular people or region;
    a language or dialect.
  7. manner of speaking, as of a person:Your slovenly speech is holding back your career.
  8. Linguisticsa field of study devoted to the theory and practice of oral communication.
  9. [Archaic.]rumor.
  • bef. 900; Middle English speche, Old English spǣc, variant of sprǣc, derivative of sprecan to speak; cognate with German Sprache
    1. parlance, parley, conversation, communication. Speech, language refer to the means of communication used by people. Speech is the expression of ideas and thoughts by means of articulate vocal sounds, or the faculty of thus expressing ideas and thoughts. Language is a set of conventional signs, not necessarily articulate or even vocal (any set of signs, signals, or symbols that convey meaning, including written words, may be called language):a spoken language.Thus, language is the set of conventions, and speech is the action of putting these to use:He couldn't understand the speech of the natives because it was in a foreign language. 3. observation, assertion, asseveration, comment, mention, talk. 4. talk, discourse. Speech, address, oration, harangue are terms for a communication to an audience. Speech is the general word, with no implication of kind or length, or whether planned or not. An address is a rather formal, planned speech, appropriate to a particular subject or occasion. An oration is a polished, rhetorical address, given usually on a notable occasion, that employs eloquence and studied methods of delivery. A harangue is a violent, informal speech, often addressed to a casually assembled audience, and intended to arouse strong feeling (sometimes to lead to mob action). 6. tongue, patois.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
speech /spiːtʃ/ n
    • the act or faculty of speaking, esp as possessed by persons
    • (as modifier): speech therapy
  2. that which is spoken; utterance
  3. a talk or address delivered to an audience
  4. a person's characteristic manner of speaking
  5. a national or regional language or dialect
Etymology: Old English spēc; related to specan to speak
'speech' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [long, lengthy, drawn out, rousing, boring, fiery] speech, has a speech [impediment, disorder, problem], [a key, the main, a pivotal, an inspirational] speech, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "speech" in the title:

, the caption beneath it ran [ part of speech]
... and what happened to them (formal speech)
.... saying my documents 'were' vs 'are' (reported speech: tense)
...because the exam [<will><would>] vs. [<has><had>] vs. [<is><was>]... [reported speech]
...he <would><will> have been... when I <saw><see> him tomorrow. [reported speech]
...that I noticed that you <have><had> made... [reported speech] [backshift]
...until we <know><knew>... [reported speech] [backshift]
'Any' or 'some' in the reported speech
'best wishes' in speech
'bring' and 'take' in indirect speech
'Dare to dream' in Nigel Farage's Brexit speech.
'I just wanted to let you know' in the reported speech.
'I'm sorry I didn't' / My cousin apologized for ...[Reported speech]
'If he had his -- Direct Speech
'It wasn't me' / Ali denied .... [reported speech]
'May I come in' -- Indirect Speech
'may' or 'might' [in reported speech]
'That', he said, 'is stupid.' [Punctuation for direct speech.]
'There' Parts of Speech
'visit' (Part of speech)
'was going -- is going Direct Speech'
'what to do' and 'how to go' - What part of speech is 'what' and 'how'?
'Why + infinitive' in reported speech?
“None is” in educated speech
« In » in reported speech
(bathroom) half bath / full bath in everyday speech?
(Indirect Speech. Imperative?) He told him to come there.
(speech) rolley-hilled
[backshift in reported speech]
[Reported Speech] "What do you make with removed teeth" I asked my dentist
more...

Look up "speech" at Merriam-Webster
Look up "speech" at dictionary.com
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