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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 15 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'

IPA Pronunciation Guide

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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.

View usage for: All Years Last 10 years Last 50 years Last 100 years Last 300 years

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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not married or not having a relationship with anyone; single

A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)

A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)

speech definition is

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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.

  • actor's line
  • articulation
  • articulator
  • auditory communication
  • Broca's area
  • caregiver speech
  • child-directed speech
  • spectrum analysis
  • spectrum line
  • spectrum management
  • Specular iron
  • specularity
  • speculation
  • speculatist
  • speculative
  • speculative fiction
  • Speculative theology
  • speculatively
  • speculativeness
  • speculativism
  • Speculatorial
  • speculatory
  • speculatrice
  • speculum metal
  • speech balloon
  • speech bubble
  • speech communication
  • speech community
  • speech defect
  • speech disorder
  • speech from the throne
  • speech impediment
  • speech intelligibility
  • speech organ
  • speech pathology
  • speech pattern
  • Speech Patterns
  • speech perception
  • speech production
  • speech recognition
  • speech rhythm
  • speech sound
  • speech spectrum
  • speech therapist
  • speech therapy
  • speech training
  • speechcraft
  • sped you up
  • Spedition-Transport-Logistik Center
  • Spedizione in Abbonamento
  • Spedus Corp
  • Spee embryo
  • Spee, Ferdinand Graf von
  • Spee, Maximilian Von
  • Spee, Maximilian, Graf von
  • Speece Thorson Capital Group
  • Speech & Debate
  • Speech & Debate Clause
  • Speech & Hearing Association of Alabama
  • Speech act theory
  • Speech Activity Detector
  • Speech acts
  • speech aid prosthesis
  • speech amplifier
  • Speech Analytics
  • Speech and Data
  • Speech and Debate
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  • Speech and Hearing Center
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  • Facebook Share

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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.

COMMENTS

  1. Speech Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    The meaning of SPEECH is the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words. How to use speech in a sentence.

  2. SPEECH | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

    SPEECH definition: 1. the ability to talk, the activity of talking, or a piece of spoken language: 2. the way a…. Learn more.

  3. SPEECH definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

    1. the act of speaking; expression or communication of thoughts and feelings by spoken words. 2. the power or ability to speak. 3. the manner of speaking. her lisping speech. 4. that which is spoken; utterance, remark, statement, talk, conversation, etc.

  4. SPEECH | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

    SPEECH definition: 1. someone's ability to talk, or an example of someone talking: 2. a formal talk that someone…. Learn more.

  5. Speech - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations. speech that differs from the usual accepted, easily recognizable speech of native adult members of a speech community. the language or speech of one individual at a particular period in life.

  6. Speech Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    SPEECH meaning: 1 : a spoken expression of ideas, opinions, etc., that is made by someone who is speaking in front of a group of people; 2 : the ability to speak.

  7. Speech - definition of speech by The Free Dictionary

    a. the act or faculty of speaking, esp as possessed by persons: to have speech with somebody. b. (as modifier): speech therapy. 2. that which is spoken; utterance. 3. a talk or address delivered to an audience. 4. a person's characteristic manner of speaking. 5. (Linguistics) a national or regional language or dialect.

  8. speech, n.¹ meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...

    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.

  9. SPEECH Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

    Speech definition: the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication; ability to express one's thoughts and emotions by speech sounds and gesture. See examples of SPEECH used in a sentence.

  10. Speech - Wikipedia

    Speech is the use of the human voice as a medium for language. Spoken language combines vowel and consonant sounds to form units of meaning like words, which belong to a language's lexicon. There are many different intentional speech acts, such as informing, declaring, asking, persuading, directing; acts may vary in various aspects like ...