speakable

Variant of speak

speak definition

speak (spēk)

intransitive verb spoke, spoken spo′·ken, speaking speak′·ing

  1. to utter words with the ordinary voice; talk
  2. to express or communicate opinions, feelings, ideas, etc. by or as by talking speak in our behalf, actions speak louder than words
  3. to make a request or reservation (for): usually in the passive voice a seat not yet spoken for
  4. to make a speech; deliver an address or lecture; discourse
  5. to be a spokesman (for)
  6. to talk with another or others; converse
  7. to make or give out sound, as a gun firing or a dog barking

Etymology: ME speken < OE specan, earlier sprecan, akin to Ger sprechen < IE base *sp(h)er(e)-g-, to strew, sprinkle > spark, L spargere, to sprinkle: basic sense “to scatter (words)”

transitive verb

  1. to express or make known by or as by speaking
  2. to use or be able to use (a given language) in speaking
  3. to utter (words) orally
  4. Archaic to speak to; address
  5. Archaic to declare or show to be; reveal
  6. Naut. to hail (a ship)

Related Forms:

speak Idioms

so to speak

in a manner of speaking; that is to say

speak for itself

to be self-evident

speak out

or speak up
  1. to speak audibly or clearly
  2. to speak freely or forcefully

speak to

to respond to, deal with, fulfill, etc. the decision speaks to the needs of everyone involved

speak well for

to say or indicate something favorable about

to speak of

worthy of mention no gains to speak of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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