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speech

speech

34 1.0
The way a person uses words and voice when talking
  • noun
  • /spiːtʃ/
: manera de hablar
  • The white-haired man spoke on, without calculation, as if delivering a speech of great familiarity.
  • speech patterns
  • speech style
  • vernacular speech

Dears, try to introduce courtesy into your speech to each other.

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Examples

  • The norm of free speech is inherently political and far from universally shared.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I was not keen to make a speech in front of an audience.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The topic of his speech was that greed was healthy.

  • I was beginning to like the singsong of his speech, the way he pronounced American.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Dears, try to introduce courtesy into your speech to each other.

  • They are adopting his dress, speech and ways rapidly.

  • The title is taken from Portia's speech in The Merchant of Venice.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Well, we can't throw her out of the election just because we don't like her speech.

  • Freedom of speech is very present in Paldoñia, but let's move on.

  • During the debate, her speech on climate change inspired many in the audience.

Synonyms

tongue
vsspeech
144 6.7

A way of speaking that shows a person's attitude

is the broader term for a person's overall oral expression
delivery
vsspeech
38 4.1

The way someone says words to others, for example in a speech

applies to general personal expression, not limited to public presentation
15 3.8

A person's usual way of talking that shows how they feel or think

is the exact same idea but in a general label
speech pattern
vsspeech
7 3.8

A way of speaking that a person often uses, shown by accent or rhythm

is about manner and style rather than specific sound features

Idioms

Not speaking is often better than saying things you do not need to say

Compounds

free speech
  • Formal
177 3.2

The right to say what you think in public without the government stopping you

95 2.7

The right to say what you think without fear of government punishment

hate speech
  • Offensive
31 5.1

Speech that attacks a group and encourages others to harm or treat them unfairly, like race, religion, gender

Words used to mean something different to create a strong picture

stump speech
  • Literature
15 6.5

A talk a politician gives many times during a campaign about their main plans

Help for people who find talking difficult so others can understand them

A way of speaking that a person often uses, shown by accent or rhythm

A person who helps people who have trouble speaking or using words

A main talk at a meeting that gives the event's main idea

3 3.5

The last talk a person gives before leaving a job or event

A talk that makes people feel brave and ready to act

part of speech
  • Specialized
2 3.5

A class of words like noun, verb, or adjective

A sincere spoken message that shows deep feeling

speech disorder
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A condition that makes it hard to say sounds correctly or use the voice well

Sharing ideas and information by speaking to others

speech act
  • Specialized
1 7.4

Words that you say to do something, like asking or promising

1 6.9

A speech at a political meeting that officially proposes someone as a candidate

speech defect
  • Specialized
1 4.8

Difficulty speaking clearly that makes others hard to understand

1 3.4

A school event when people give speeches and students get prizes

A rounded shape in comics that shows what a character says or thinks

speech sound
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A single sound that people make when they talk

speech synthesizer
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A device or program that makes a voice like a human

speech community
  • Specialized
1 5.5

People who use the same language or dialect and follow the same rules for talking

speech perception
  • Specialized
1 5.3

The way the brain hears and understands spoken words

incendiary speech
  • Literature
1 8.7

A speech that makes people very angry or causes unrest

speech production
  • Specialized
1 4.4

The way a person makes clear spoken words other people can understand

A round shape in a comic that shows what a character says

speech organ
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A body part like the tongue or lips that makes speech sounds

1 6.7

How well people understand spoken words when there is background noise or bad sound

speech rhythm
  • Specialized
1 3.7

The pattern of strong and weak syllables that makes speech flow

A body part like the tongue or lips used to make sounds for talking

Speech that is hard to follow because the ideas do not connect

part-of-speech tagger
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A computer program that labels each word as a noun, verb, or adjective

speech spectrum
  • Specialized
1 5.2

The range of high and low sounds in a person's voice

1 9.6

Rich loud speaking that sounds grand and a little showy

feature of speech
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A part of how we speak that helps show the difference between words or sounds

non-standard speech
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A way of speaking that differs from the usual form used by local native adults

defect of speech
  • Specialized
5.9

A problem that makes someone speak unclearly or have trouble saying words

A strong speech that makes people feel excited or amazed

7.8

A smooth, sweet way of speaking that sounds pleasant to hear

phatic speech
  • Specialized
8.8

Words used to start or keep a friendly talk, not to give information

Words you hear from people talking nearby on the phone

visible speech
  • Specialized
8.6

A picture that shows speech sounds over time

visible speech
  • Archaic
9.9

A set of written signs that shows how to make speech sounds with the mouth

9.5

A very impressive talk that makes people want to act

How Expressive

eloquence
19 6.1
speech
34 1.0
delivery
38 4.1
tone
542 3.5
manner
106 1.0

Surface Forms

speech singular
speeches plural

Etymology

Speech is from the same old root as speak, which means 'to say words', and that idea of how someone says words explains why speech can mean a person's particular way or style of speaking.