a speech word meaning

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Definition of speech

• declamation

Examples of speech in a Sentence

Word history.

Middle English speche , from Old English sprǣc, spǣc ; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at speak

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing speech

• acceptance speech
• figure of speech
• freedom of speech
• free speech
• hate speech
• part of speech
• polite speech

speech community

• speech form
• speech impediment
• speech therapy
• stump speech
• visible speech

Dictionary Entries Near speech

Cite this entry.

“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of speech, medical definition, medical definition of speech, legal definition, legal definition of speech, more from merriam-webster on speech.

Nglish: Translation of speech for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of speech for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about speech

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Definition of 'speech'

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speech in British English

Speech in american english, examples of 'speech' in a sentence speech, cobuild collocations speech, trends of speech.

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Browse alphabetically speech

• speech bubble
• speech clinic
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'S'

Related terms of speech

• cued speech
• free speech
• hate speech
• View more related words

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Meaning of speech – Learner’s Dictionary

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speech noun ( SAY WORDS )

• The article discusses different types of speech defect .
• Hearing the speech of others is a good way to learn the language .
• She is studying children's speech development .
• Lip reading enables her to understand the speech of another without hearing the words.
• The phonetic alphabet represents speech sounds symbolically .

speech noun ( PUBLIC TALK )

(Definition of speech from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of speech

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a group of families, especially in Scotland, who originally came from the same family and have the same name

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speech noun 1

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What does the noun speech mean?

There are 28 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun speech , 12 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

speech has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun speech ?

How is the noun speech pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun speech come from.

Earliest known use

Old English

The earliest known use of the noun speech is in the Old English period (pre-1150).

speech is a word inherited from Germanic .

Nearby entries

• speculator, n. 1555–
• speculatorial, adj. 1860–
• speculatory, n. & adj. 1569–
• speculatrix, n. 1611–
• specule, v. 1484
• speculist, n. 1707–
• speculoos, n. 1901–
• speculous, adj. c1604
• speculum, n. 1598–
• sped, adj. 1891–
• speech, n.¹ Old English–
• speech, n.² 1875–
• speech, v. 1654–
• speech act, n. 1896–
• speech act theory, n. 1969–
• speech act verb, n. 1962–
• speech area, n. 1885–
• speech bubble, n. 1966–
• speech-centre | speech-center, n. 1881–
• speech chain, n. 1950–
• speech clinic, n. 1963–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for speech, n.¹.

speech, n.¹ was first published in 1913; not yet revised.

speech, n.¹ was last modified in June 2024.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into speech, n.¹ in June 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1913)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View speech, n.¹ in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for speech, n.¹, browse entry.

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Definition of speech noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• speaker noun
• speech noun
• spoken adjective (≠ unspoken)
• Several people made speeches at the wedding.
• She gave a rousing speech to the crowd.
• speech on something to deliver a speech on human rights
• speech about something He inspired everyone with a moving speech about tolerance and respect.
• in a speech In his acceptance speech , the actor thanked his family.
• a lecture on the Roman army
• a course/​series of lectures
• a televised presidential address
• She gave an interesting talk on her visit to China.
• to preach a sermon
• a long/​short speech/​lecture/​address/​talk/​sermon
• a keynote speech/​lecture/​address
• to write/​prepare/​give/​deliver/​hear a(n) speech/​lecture/​address/​talk/​sermon
• to attend/​go to a lecture/​talk
• George Washington's inaugural speech
• He made a speech about workers of the world uniting.
• In a speech given last month, she hinted she would run for office.
• She delivered the keynote speech (= main general speech) at the conference.
• He wrote her party conference speech.
• His 20-minute speech was interrupted several times by booing.
• Her comments came ahead of a speech she will deliver on Thursday to business leaders.
• She concluded her speech by thanking the audience.
• He gave an impassioned speech broadcast nationwide.
• We heard a speech by the author.
• This is very unexpected—I haven't prepared a speech.
• The guest speaker is ill so I have to do the opening speech.
• He read his speech from a prompter.
• the farewell speech given by George Washington
• He made the comments in a nationally televised speech.
• During his victory speech the President paid tribute to his defeated opponent.
• In his concession speech, he urged his supporters to try to work with Republicans.
• The Prime Minister addressed the nation in a televised speech.
• He delivered his final speech to Congress.
• He delivered the commencement speech at Notre Dame University.
• His speech was broadcast on national radio.
• In her speech to the House of Commons, she outlined her vision of Britain in the 21st century.
• President Bush delivered his 2004 State of the Union speech.
• She gave a speech on the economy.
• She made a stirring campaign speech on improving the lot of the unemployed.
• The President will deliver a major foreign-policy speech to the United Nations.
• The candidates gave their standard stump speeches (= political campaign speeches) .
• The prizewinner gave an emotional acceptance speech.
• a Senate floor speech
• her maiden speech (= her first) in the House of Commons
• the Chancellor's Budget speech
• the Prime Minister's speech-writers
• She's been asked to give the after-dinner speech.
• You will need to prepare an acceptance speech.
• a political speech writer
• in a/​the speech
• speech about

Join our community to access the latest language learning and assessment tips from Oxford University Press!

• in speech This expression is used mainly in speech, not in writing.
• a defence of free speech (= the right to say openly what you think)
• speech sounds
• the use of language in everyday speech
• The kids pepper their speech with a lot of slang and terms from social media.
• the difficulties of transcribing conversational speech
• Computer-generated speech has become significantly more intelligible and naturalistic.
• The poems are delivered in a style between speech and song.
• Improvements in speech recognition have produced digital assistants that can respond to spoken commands.
• A blind user can 'read' a newspaper using a Braille display or speech synthesizer.
• Her singing style is close to the natural rhythms of everyday speech.
• the speech rhythms of the Polish language
• He learned to successfully mimic American speech patterns.
• birds that mimic the intonations of human speech
• They were able to communicate without speech.
• In English, a letter does not always represent the same speech sound.
• Speech codes have been instituted by some universities (= to stop language that is sexist, racist, etc.) .
• The country continues to suppress free speech and censor the internet.
• When the government restricts speech, this may be a violation of the First Amendment.
• racist hate speech
• a figure of speech
• freedom of speech
• the power of speech
• I seemed to have lost the power of speech.
• a speech impediment
• The child was referred to a speech therapist .
• He temporarily lost the power of speech after the accident.
• It's a story about a kid who loses his powers of sight, hearing and speech.
• a child who has problems with speech and language
• a speech and language therapist
• After the stroke he had some difficulties with speech.
• the development of speech in humans
• Symptoms may include visual and speech impairment.
• Her speech was slurred—she was clearly drunk.
• Clear speech with crisp consonant sounds is very important.
• She could tell by his slurred speech that he had been drinking.
• She was slurring her speech.
• I find his speech very hard to understand.
• I don't like it when people correct my speech.
• His speech was incoherent, responding to questions that had not been asked.
• In halting speech, she began to tell her story.
• She has a very idiosyncratic style of speech.
• She has the longest speech in the play.
• dramatic irony

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If you make a speech or give a talk, you speak for a period of time to an audience, usually saying things which you have prepared in advance.

A speech is made on a formal occasion, for example at a dinner, wedding, or public meeting.

A talk is more informal, and is intended to give information.

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