speaking Hear it!

speaking definition

speak·ing (spē′kiŋ)

adjective

  1. that speaks or seems to speak; expressive; eloquent; vivid a speaking likeness
  2. used in or for speech
  3. allowing or admitting of speech within speaking range

noun

  1. the act or art of a person who speaks
  2. that which is spoken; utterance; discourse
speaking Idioms

on speaking terms

friendly enough to exchange greetings or carry on conversation

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

speaking Synonyms

speaking

modif.

  1. Talking

    oral, verbal, vocal; see talking.

  2. Expressive

    meaningful, eloquent, vivid, forceful; see fluent 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

speaking Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • finish: As soon as Huw had finished speaking there was a rush of questions.

Preposition: in

  • tongue: Is it because he's anti speaking in tongues?

Adjective modifier

  • non-English: Recall that the children in the JP and Big Books classrooms were largely non-English speaking.

Modifies a noun

  • engagement: The speaking engagement had been in the diary for some time.

Noun used with modifier

  • after-dinner: Gary is available for live presenting and awards hosting, as well as conference and after-dinner speaking engagements.
speaking usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

speaking quotes

Yes, Alec, it is I, your father, speaking.

-Bell, Alexander Melville

Just as the pious man prays without speaking a word and the Almighty hearkens unto him, so the artist with true feelings paints and the sensitive man understands and recognizes it.

-Friedrich, Caspar David

L'e¤  ducation de l'homme commence a'   sa naissance; avant de parler, avant que d'entendre, il s'instruit de¤  ja'  . A man's education begins when he is born; before speaking, before understanding, he is already teaching himself.

-Rousseau,JeanJacques

speaking quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"speaking." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/speaking>

APA Style

speaking. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/speaking

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment