talk

noun

UK /tɔːk/

Word Forms

singular	talk
plural	talks

1
countable a conversation with someone
have a talk (with someone):
We had a nice talk yesterday.
Synonyms and related words
Discussions and debates
discussion
debate
argument
1. 1a
  
  talks
  plural discussions between important people from opposing sides designed to help them agree about an issue
  talk with:
  He visited Egypt in March for talks with the president.
  talk between:
  the outcome of talks between the government and the rebels
  talk on:
  preliminary talks on the future of the steel industry
  have/hold talks:
  The management will be holding informal talks with union officials.
  a round/session of talks:
  the need for a fresh round of peace talks
  talks break down/collapse:
  Talks broke down last week over the issue of overtime pay.
  talks resume/reopen:
  The trade talks will resume next month.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
2
countable an informal lecture about a subject
give/deliver a talk (on something):
Williams gave a talk on his travels in Nepal.
Synonyms and related words
Speeches and parts of speeches
speech
talk
address
3
uncountable ordinary conversations between people
I sat there listening to the sailors’ talk.
talk of:
Talk of housework bored her.
the talk turns to something (=the conversation begins to be about something):
Then the talk turned to the upcoming exam.
Synonyms and related words
Informal conversation about other people or unimportant things
conversation
chat
gossip
1. 3a
  conversations and discussions about what may happen
  talk of:
  There was no talk of any cuts in wages.
  talk about:
  There is a lot of talk about welfare reform.
  hear talk:
  We hear talk nowadays about being good Europeans.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
2. 3b
  the activity of talking, especially when you think it does not achieve anything
  Most radio stations need less talk and more music.
  be all/just talk:
  She appears to be an expert on men, but it’s all talk!
  despite/for all someone’s talk:
  For all the government’s talk, it does nothing to improve housing conditions.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
3. 3c
  discussion of other people’s private lives
  At first there was a lot of talk, but people soon lost interest.
  Synonyms and related words
  Informal conversation about other people or unimportant things
  conversation
  chat
  gossip
4. 3d
  a style of talking used by a particular group of people
  girl/boy talk
  youngsters using up-to-the-minute street talk (=a fashionable way of talking)
  Synonyms and related words
  Writing or speech style
  academic writing
  delivery
  diction

phrases

talk is cheap

the talk of something

talk

noun

US /tɔk/

Word Forms

singular	talk
plural	talks

1
countable a conversation with someone
have a talk (with someone):
We had a nice talk yesterday.
Synonyms and related words
Discussions and debates
discussion
debate
argument
1. 1a
  
  talks
  plural discussions between important people from opposing sides designed to help them agree about an issue
  talk with:
  He visited Egypt in March for talks with the president.
  talk between:
  the outcome of talks between the government and the rebels
  talk on:
  preliminary talks on the future of the steel industry
  have/hold talks:
  The management will be holding informal talks with union officials.
  a round/session of talks:
  the need for a fresh round of peace talks
  talks break down/collapse:
  Talks broke down last week over the issue of overtime pay.
  talks resume/reopen:
  The trade talks will resume next month.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
2
countable an informal lecture about a subject
give/deliver a talk (on something):
Williams gave a talk on his travels in Nepal.
Synonyms and related words
Speeches and parts of speeches
speech
talk
address
3
uncountable ordinary conversations between people
I sat there listening to the sailors’ talk.
talk of:
Talk of housework bored her.
the talk turns to something (=the conversation begins to be about something):
Then the talk turned to the upcoming exam.
Synonyms and related words
Informal conversation about other people or unimportant things
conversation
chat
gossip
1. 3a
  conversations and discussions about what may happen
  talk of:
  There was no talk of any cuts in wages.
  talk about:
  There is a lot of talk about welfare reform.
  hear talk:
  We hear talk about being good citizens.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
2. 3b
  the activity of talking, especially when you think it does not achieve anything
  Most radio stations need less talk and more music.
  be all/just talk:
  She appears to be an expert on men, but it’s all talk!
  despite/for all someone’s talk:
  For all the government’s talk, it does nothing to improve housing conditions.
  Synonyms and related words
  Discussions and debates
  discussion
  debate
  argument
3. 3c
  discussion of other people’s private lives
  At first there was a lot of talk, but people soon lost interest.
  Synonyms and related words
  Informal conversation about other people or unimportant things
  conversation
  chat
  gossip
4. 3d
  a style of talking used by a particular group of people
  girl/boy talk
  youngsters using up-to-the-minute street talk (=a fashionable way of talking)
  Synonyms and related words
  Writing or speech style
  academic writing
  delivery
  diction

phrases

talk is cheap

the talk of something

talk

verb

UK /tɔːk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	talk
he/she/it	talks
present participle	talking
past tense	talked
past participle	talked

1
intransitive to use words to communicate
Can their baby talk yet?
Am I talking too much?
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a conversation with someone
  talk
  chat
  catch up
2. 1b
  if a bird talks, it produces sounds like words
  I’ve taught my parrot to talk.
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird behaviour
  alight
  beat
  be on the wing
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 at the moment.
talk to:
You kids never talk to me (=discuss anything important with me).
keep talking:
Officials agreed on Monday to keep talking despite the latest crisis.
Synonyms and related words
To discuss something
discuss
consider
talk
1. 2a
  transitive to discuss a subject
  talk politics/sports/religion etc:
  He spoilt the evening by talking politics all the time.
  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?
  Synonyms and related words
  To discuss something
  discuss
  consider
  talk
2. 2b
  intransitive to discuss other people’s private lives
  You can’t stay here – the neighbours would talk.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a conversation with someone
  talk
  chat
  catch up
3
intransitive to give a lecture on a subject
talk on/about:
In the hall a woman was talking on diet and health.
Synonyms and related words
To perform a ceremony or to give a speech
address
be upstanding
chair
4
intransitive to give information that someone thinks should be secret
Do you think the prisoners will talk?
Synonyms and related words
To tell or reveal a secret or secrets
reveal
tell
let on
5
transitive to achieve something by talking
Synonyms and related words
To discuss something
discuss
consider
talk
6
intransitive if a machine talks to another machine, it sends information to that machine
The software enables the two computers to talk.
Synonyms and related words
Engine and machine behaviour
backfire
burn up
come to life
7
intransitive informalto have the power to persuade people
Money talks!
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
8
talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
to talk a lot
Our driver was a rolypoly, chirpy chap who could talk the hind legs off a donkey.
Submitted by:
Samuel Chung from Mexico on 12/08/2018
Open Dictionary - August2018
9
talk out of school
to gossipSubmitted by:
Ismail from Russian Federation on 23/10/2019
Open Dictionary - October2019
10
talk a good game
to say things that make people believe that one can do something or that something is true about oneself even though it is not true
She talks a good game about protecting the environment, but she doesn’t even recycle.
Submitted by:
simplicissimus from Romania on 27/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016
11
talk big
to brag; to make grandiose statements
She talks big but can’t produce anything.
I don’t believe he’s ever shot even a duck, but he sure talks big about hunting.
Submitted by:
simplicissimus from Romania on 27/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016
12
talk bobbins
informal
to speak a lot of nonsense
Yes Tracy and you always tell me I’m talking bobbins.
Submitted by:
James Strangward from United Kingdom on 21/04/2014
Open Dictionary - April2014

phrases

be talking (about) something

someone can talk/someone is a fine one to talk/look who’s talking

do (all) the talking

not know what someone is talking about

now you’re talking

talk about...

talk English

talk in terms of something

talk someone into/out of (doing) something

talk someone’s language

talk sense/nonsense etc

talk (some) sense into someone

talk the talk

talk through your hat

talk your way into/out of something

that’s the drink/drugs etc talking

phrasal verbs

talk at

talk away

talk back

talk down

talk down to

talk out

talk over

talk round

talk through

talk to

talk up

talk

verb

US /tɔk/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	talk
he/she/it	talks
present participle	talking
past tense	talked
past participle	talked

1
intransitive to use words to communicate
Can their baby talk yet?
Am I talking too much?
Synonyms and related words
General words meaning to say something
say
talk
speak
1. 1a
  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.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a conversation with someone
  talk
  chat
  catch up
2. 1b
  if a bird talks, it produces sounds like words
  I’ve taught my parrot to talk.
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird behavior
  alight
  beat
  be on the wing
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.
Synonyms and related words
To discuss something
discuss
consider
talk
1. 2a
  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?
  Synonyms and related words
  To discuss something
  discuss
  consider
  talk
2. 2b
  intransitive to discuss other people’s private lives
  You can’t stay here – the neighbors would talk.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a conversation with someone
  talk
  chat
  catch up
3
intransitive to give a lecture on a subject
talk on/about:
In the hall a woman was talking on diet and health.
Synonyms and related words
To perform a ceremony or to give a speech
address
chair
commemorate
4
intransitive to give information that someone thinks should be secret
Do you think the prisoners will talk?
Synonyms and related words
To tell or reveal a secret or secrets
reveal
tell
betray
5
transitive to achieve something by talking
Synonyms and related words
To discuss something
discuss
consider
talk
6
intransitive if a machine talks to another machine, it sends information to that machine
The software enables the two computers to talk.
Synonyms and related words
Engine and machine behavior
backfire
burn up
come to life
7
intransitive informalto have the power to persuade people
Money talks!
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
8
talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
to talk a lot
Our driver was a rolypoly, chirpy chap who could talk the hind legs off a donkey.
Submitted by:
Samuel Chung from Mexico on 12/08/2018
Open Dictionary - August2018
9
talk out of school
to gossipSubmitted by:
Ismail from Russian Federation on 23/10/2019
Open Dictionary - October2019
10
talk a good game
to say things that make people believe that one can do something or that something is true about oneself even though it is not true
She talks a good game about protecting the environment, but she doesn’t even recycle.
Submitted by:
simplicissimus from Romania on 27/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016
11
talk big
to brag; to make grandiose statements
She talks big but can’t produce anything.
I don’t believe he’s ever shot even a duck, but he sure talks big about hunting.
Submitted by:
simplicissimus from Romania on 27/11/2016
Open Dictionary - November2016
12
talk bobbins
informal
to speak a lot of nonsense
Yes Tracy and you always tell me I’m talking bobbins.
Submitted by:
James Strangward from United Kingdom on 21/04/2014
Open Dictionary - April2014

phrases

be talking (about) something

someone can talk/someone is a fine one to talk/look who’s talking

do (all) the talking

not know what someone is talking about

now you’re talking

talk about...

talk English

talk in terms of something

talk someone into/out of (doing) something

talk someone’s language

talk sense/nonsense etc.

talk (some) sense into someone

talk the talk

talk through your hat

talk trash

talk your way into/out of something

that’s the drink/drugs etc. talking

phrasal verbs

talk around

talk at

talk away

talk back

talk down

talk down to

talk out

talk over

talk through

talk to

talk up

talk ​‌‌‌

talks

talk ​‌‌‌

talks

talk ​‌‌‌

talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey

talk out of school

talk a good game

talk big

talk bobbins

talk ​‌‌‌

talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey

talk out of school

talk a good game

talk big

talk bobbins

talk

talk

talk

talk