Speak

speak

Pronunciation: /spiːk/

verb (past spoke /spəʊk/; past participlespoken /ˈspəʊk(ə)n/) [no object]

1Say something in order to convey information or to express a feeling:

e.g. In his agitation Mohan was unable to speak.

e.g. Sohan refused to speak about the incident.

Have a conversation:

e.g. Last time we spoke, you told me you couldn’t do the job

e.g. She will speak to Nishant if he rings up.

[with object] Utter (a word, message, etc.):

e.g. Students copy words spoken by their teacher.

[with object] Communicate in or be able to communicate in (a specified language):

e.g. My mother spoke Marathi.

Make a speech or contribute to a debate:

e.g. Twenty thousand people attended to hear Saurabh speak.

(speak for) Express the views or position of (another):

e.g. He claimed to speak for the majority of local people.

Convey one’s views or position indirectly:

e.g. Speaking through his solicitor, he refused to join the debate.

(speak to) Answer (a question) or address (an issue or problem):

e.g. We should be disappointed if the report did not speak to the issue of literacy.

(speak of) Mention or discuss in speech or writing:

e.g. The books speak of betrayal.

2(speak to) Talk to in order to reprove or advise:

e.g. She tried to speak to Sandy about his drinking.

Talk to in order to give or obtain information:

e.g. He had spoken to the police.

Appeal or relate to:

e.g. The story spoke to him directly

3 (Of behaviour, an object, etc.) serve as evidence for something:

e.g. Everything in the house spoke of hard times and neglect.

[with object] :

e.g. His frame spoke tiredness.

[with object and infinitive or adverbial]archaic Show (someone or something) to be in a particular state or to possess a certain quality:

e.g. She had seen nothing that spoke him of immoral habits.

4 (Of a musical instrument or other object) make a sound when functioning:

e.g. The gun spoke again.

speak: in phrases

not to speak of

• Used in introducing a further factor to be considered:

e.g. The rent had to be paid, not to speak of school fees.

something speaks for itself

• The implications of something are so clear that no supporting evidence is needed:

e.g. The figures speak for themselves

speak for oneself

• Give one’s own opinions:

e.g. I’m not speaking for me and Jack, I’m speaking for myself.

speak for yourself

• [in imperative] Used to tell someone that an opinion they have expressed is not shared by oneself:

e.g. ‘This is such a boring place.’ ‘Speak for yourself—I like it.’

speak in tongues

• Speak in an unknown language during religious worship, regarded as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

speak one's mind

• Express one’s opinions frankly:

e.g. Mohan is a tough politician who speaks his mind in a blunt way.

speak volumes

• (Of a gesture, circumstance, etc.) convey a great deal without using words:

e.g. A look that spoke volumes.

e.g. His record speaks volumes for his determination.

speak well (or ill) of

• Praise (or criticize):

e.g. The patients speak well of their doctors.

—— to speak of

• [with negative] Used to indicate that there is so little of something that it is hardly worth mentioning:

e.g. I’ve no capital—well, none to speak of

speak: in phrasal verbs

speak out (or up)

• Express one’s opinions frankly and publicly:

e.g. The government will be forthright in speaking out against human rights abuses.

speak up

• Speak more loudly:

e.g. We can’t hear you. Speak up!

speak up for

• Speak in support of:

e.g. There was no independent body to speak up for press freedoms