chat1 verbchat2 noun
chatchat1 /tʃæt/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle chatted, present participle chatting) [intransitive] 
WORD ORIGINchat2
Origin:
1400-1500 chatterVERB TABLE
chat
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | chat |
| he, she, it | chats | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | chatted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have chatted |
| he, she, it | has chatted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had chatted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will chat |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have chatted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am chatting |
| he, she, it | is chatting | |
| you, we, they | are chatting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was chatting |
| you, we, they | were chatting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been chatting |
| he, she, it | has been chatting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been chatting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be chatting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been chatting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Harry chatted to a couple of Australian tourists as we waited for the show to begin.
- The girls were sitting on the steps, chatting.
- The two women chatted all evening.
- We drank our coffee and chatted about our experiences.
- You can chat to Brad Pitt live this evening.
- Ever so subtly, still chatting navigation with me, Neil accommodates, reeling Rachel in at just the right time.
- However, time passed pleasantly enough, chatting to other members of my group and absorbing the atmosphere of the building.
- Meanwhile, over breakfast, we chatted of this and that.
- Taking a breath, Calipari smiles and wades into the throng, chatting amiably as he obliges each request.
- That would be her neighbour wanting to chat for a few minutes.
- We were alone, with a dilatory guard outside chatting with a secretary.
- When Dexter met the superintendent twenty minutes later, Blanche stood outside the Inside Out office still chatting to the security guard.
Longman Language Activatorthings you do on the Internet
to look at information on the Internet, especially when you look quickly in order to find something that interests you: · People caught surfing the Net at work are liable to be dismissed.
to copy a file from the Internet onto your own computer: · Download your favorite songs by clicking here.
to copy something from your computer onto the Internet: · Take great care when uploading personal information such as your address or credit card number.
to use a website on the Internet: · For more information on how you can help, visit our website.
to communicate with several people by computer, using a special Internet program that allows you to exchange written messages very quickly: · You can chat to Brad Pitt live this evening.
to communicate with someone by computer, using a special Internet program that allows you to exchange written messages very quickly: · Teenagers are the group most likely to IM each other.
to talk to someone to say something to someone, or have a conversation: · We sat around talking for hours.· two friends talking on the phonetalk about: · They talked about their favourite pop stars.talk to: · Danny was talking to a girl he'd just met at the bar.· It's been nice talking to you.talk with somebody American: · I left Mario talking with my mother.
to talk to someone. Speak is more formal than talk: · The brothers haven't spoken since the funeral.speak to: · There's a man from the Times on the phone who wants to speak to you.· I spoke to a few people at the party who knew him.
· Did you say something? Sorry - I wasn't listening.· No one said anything.· The older woman said something in Spanish.say something about · I can remember him saying something about his mother being ill.say something to · Pradeep could hear her saying something to the nurse.
especially British to talk in a friendly and informal way, especially about things that are not very important: · The girls were sitting on the steps, chatting.chat about: · We drank our coffee and chatted about our experiences.chat with/to: · Harry chatted to a couple of Australian tourists as we waited for the show to begin.
to talk to someone for a period of time: · Could we just sit down and have a normal conversation without shouting?have a conversation about: · We were sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about food and restaurants.
to be having a conversation, especially one that takes all your attention: be in conversation with: · When I arrived, Diana was already in animated conversation with Mr Summers.be deep in conversation (=so that you do not notice what is happening around you): · The two men were deep in conversation as they walked up the path.
to make an effort to have a conversation with someone, just in order to seem friendly or polite: · I tried to make small talk, but Darden wasn't interested.· "Why did you tell her that?" "I was just making conversation."make polite conversation: · Sheila was sitting next to the boss's wife and felt obliged to make polite conversation.
American informal to talk in a relaxed way to someone you know well: · Mom and Aunt Jo were sitting drinking coffee and visiting.visit with: · I don't see him that often, but I like to go and visit with him when I can.
formal to have a conversation: · We met once and conversed briefly. That was the extent of our acquaintance.converse with: · The conference gave me an opportunity to meet and converse with VIPs in relaxed surroundings.
when people talk to each other using the Internet by typing in what they want to say and having this sent immediately to someone using a computer in a different place: · On-line chat is becoming an increasingly popular way for young people to make new friends.· Log on to live chat this evening and put your questions to your favourite pop stars.
to talk to someone in a way that shows you are attracted to them to talk to and behave towards someone as though you are sexually attracted to them, so that they will pay attention to you: · She was flirting and trying to get the waiter's attention.flirt with: · It embarrasses me when you flirt with other women in front of me.· No one had flirted with me in years, and I didn't really know how to respond.
British to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them, in order to try and make them interested in you: chat somebody up: · I'm not in the mood to go to bars and wait for sad men to try to chat me up.chat up somebody: · When I left the party Kelly was still chatting up that tall guy in the kitchen.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a TV chat show host (=person who asks the questions on the show) This was one of his favourite chat-up lines (=remark for impressing someone you want to attract).
1 (also chat away) especially British English to talk in a friendly informal way, especially about things that are not important: a TV chat show host (=person who asks the questions on the show) This was one of his favourite chat-up lines (=remark for impressing someone you want to attract). British English, a talk show American English (=in which famous or interesting people talk to someone about themselves)· She was on the chat show to publicize her new novel.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· And finally Rachel swept them from the kitchen and down the stairs, chatting amiably as she went.· Vice President Gore and Tipper Gore were dancing the night away, chatting amiably as they worked the room.· They were here, in this restaurant, and Fernando was chatting amiably with the head waiter.· Taking a breath, Calipari smiles and wades into the throng, chatting amiably as he obliges each request.· My tour guide is moving right along, chatting amiably, pointing out the sights.· Before leaving on Friday, I try to chat amiably with the librarians.
· They resumed their conversation, chatting away late into the evening.· I wanted to stay all afternoon, chatting away, and it seemed like he might have let me.· They would chat away to her about their day until they got down to the schoolwork.· It is not heart-felt, and the two opponents will happily chat away out of sight of the cameras afterwards.· Maud and I have seen you down there chatting away to the empty water.· You two looked very cosy, chatting away out on the deck.· Most of the tables supported big red-and-white parasols beneath which an assortment of elderly ladies were chatting away.· She is a lovely lady as well as a great physio, and we chatted away as she worked on my legs.
· Everyone chatted happily, except Susan, who sat alone, not looking up from the magazine she was reading.· It is not heart-felt, and the two opponents will happily chat away out of sight of the cameras afterwards.· But Christopher Taylor will happily chat to you in any one of 18 languages.· The conductor was still chatting happily.· Elaine was now chatting happily with Francis, and Bernice had learnt more about the strangely anachronistic civilization of Arcadia.· They left sticking close to their father and chatting happily to the crowds.
· She seemed quite oblivious to the route I was taking as she chatted on about her holiday plans for Ibiza.· She chatted on as I tried to read the title of her book Katie was holding.· Princesse Mathilde chatted on, pretending nothing was amiss.· She noticed his fingers drumming on the table as his fiancée - ex-fiancée - chatted on and on.· He chatted on about the landscape, enthusing at the sights that Ruth had already seen.
· The one I mostly chat to is the biology teacher.· She'd have been glad of some one to chat to.
NOUN· They may sit down at a table to chat to a friend.· To take Fodor's nice example, imagine that you are chatting to an old friend.· The next day I was chatting to friends - Joy and Alan Byne.· Mrs O had been chatting to a close friend for over an hour.
VERB· Peter came in and began to chat me up.· After the routine admiration of children, garden, and so on, they began to chat about the office.· She suppressed an embarrassed chortle as the men began to chat about the paper.
· A companion who would sit and chat with her, like she and Maisie used to chat?· Jack put the book to one side and the four of them sat chatting over a bottle of wine.· They sat chatting to his clerk, until his door opened and two men emerged.· Mrs Manners would cook a large early dinner and they would sit and chat about the coming year.· We sat and chatted for a couple of hours, but don't ask me what they looked like.· We'd sit around chatting for a bit then go on to whatever was happening that evening.· Each of us sat rather self-consciously chatting with our partners, who displayed varying degrees of rotundity.· She had been knitting a similar pair when she sat chatting with Rosa in Dinard.
· Sylvie started to chat about films she'd seen recently.
· I just can't stop chatting to the paper.· Smiling residents stroll along a cozy, old-fashioned street; the police chief stops and chats with passing motorists.· The talkative driver hadn't stopped chatting from the moment Mark had entered the cab.
· Some are sufficiently realistic that young males try to chat up the female personas they represent.· Before leaving on Friday, I try to chat amiably with the librarians.· Don't try to chat up a girl after eating a kebab.· She was trying to chat up the boy who was serving.
John and I sat up until the early hours chatting.chat with/to Mary was there, chatting to her mother.chat about Susie chatted away about her social life.2to communicate with several people in a chat room on the InternetGRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsChat is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or things do something that involves both or all of them: · The boys were chatting. You can also say: · The boys were chatting with each other.· He was chatting with the boys.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSchat somebody ↔ up phrasal verb British English informal to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them: I spent the evening chatting up Liz.chat1 verbchat2 noun
chatchat2 ●●○ noun [countable, uncountable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He didn't want anything in particular. He just stopped for a chat.
- I'm actually glad you're late - it gave Ken and me a chance to have a good chat.
- Mary took Tina in the other room for a private chat.
- Allow a minute or two of informal chat to relax both of you.
- He was a very nice man and said we could come in for a chat.
- Informal chats with guests provide an excellent opportunity to meet consumers and answer their questions about farming and food production.
- She is a natural chat artiste and has pulled the Oprah act of walking into the crowd in speeches before.
- Sit down, my dear, I'd like to have a little chat with you.
- You and your companion can learn french, practise yoga - or simply have a coffee and a chat.
THESAURUS
noun [countable, uncountable] an informal talk in which people exchange news, feelings, and thoughts: · I was having a conversation with a friend the other day.· Conversation wasn’t easy because of all the noise.· He overheard our conversation about the children.
noun [countable, uncountable] a conversation about something important: · There was a lot of discussion about where the money was going to come from.· The two companies have been having discussions about a possible takeover.
noun [countable] a long conversation, especially about a problem or about what you plan to do: · We had a long talk about our relationship.
noun [countable] especially British English an informal friendly conversation: · I’ve just had a chat with Vinnie.
noun [singular] British English informal a conversation with a friend about unimportant things: · Mary and Jean were having a cup of tea and a natter.
noun [singular, uncountable] conversations in which people talk about things they have heard, especially about other people’s private lives, which may well not be true: · She always enjoyed going to friends’ houses and having a gossip.· It’s all just gossip.
noun [uncountable] polite friendly conversation about unimportant subjects, especially when you do not know someone very well and feel a little nervous: · We stood around making small talk about the weather.
noun [uncountable] friendly conversation in which people joke with each other and gently make fun of each other: · She enjoyed the friendly banter with her colleagues at the office.
things you do when using the Internet verb to look quickly through information on the Internet, looking for anything that interests you: · He spends his evenings surfing the net.
to look for a specific piece of information on the Internet, for example by entering text into a box: · Try searching for his name on Google.
to buy things or reserve tickets using the Internet: · More and more people are preferring to shop online.· It’s easier to book online.
to look at a particular Internet site: · You can check to see how many people visit your website.
to get files, programs, music, films etc from the Internet and put them on your own computer: · I downloaded the software for free from the Internet.
to communicate with several people in a chat room on the Internet: · Using the Internet, you can chat to people from around the world.
Longman Language Activatora conversation when people talk to each other, especially in an informal situation: · Martha's a fascinating woman. I really enjoyed our conversation.· The noise of the traffic made conversation almost impossible.· They didn't realize someone was taping their telephone conversation.conversation with: · I was too shy to start a conversation with anyone there.have a conversation: · Vicky was having a long conversation with the bartender.topic of conversation: · Baker's resignation became a hot topic of conversation around the office.come up in conversation (=be mentioned as part of the conversation): · Every time his father's name came up in conversation, Tom became nervous.
especially British an informal, friendly conversation: · He didn't want anything in particular. He just stopped for a chat.· Mary took Tina in the other room for a private chat.have a chat: · I'm actually glad you're late - it gave Ken and me a chance to have a good chat.
the kind of conversation in which people talk about unimportant things in order to be polite or to avoid serious subjects: · Most of what gets said at parties is just small talk.make small talk: · Heath doesn't waste time making small talk - he comes straight to the point.
to talk to someone to say something to someone, or have a conversation: · We sat around talking for hours.· two friends talking on the phonetalk about: · They talked about their favourite pop stars.talk to: · Danny was talking to a girl he'd just met at the bar.· It's been nice talking to you.talk with somebody American: · I left Mario talking with my mother.
to talk to someone. Speak is more formal than talk: · The brothers haven't spoken since the funeral.speak to: · There's a man from the Times on the phone who wants to speak to you.· I spoke to a few people at the party who knew him.
· Did you say something? Sorry - I wasn't listening.· No one said anything.· The older woman said something in Spanish.say something about · I can remember him saying something about his mother being ill.say something to · Pradeep could hear her saying something to the nurse.
especially British to talk in a friendly and informal way, especially about things that are not very important: · The girls were sitting on the steps, chatting.chat about: · We drank our coffee and chatted about our experiences.chat with/to: · Harry chatted to a couple of Australian tourists as we waited for the show to begin.
to talk to someone for a period of time: · Could we just sit down and have a normal conversation without shouting?have a conversation about: · We were sitting around the kitchen table having a conversation about food and restaurants.
to be having a conversation, especially one that takes all your attention: be in conversation with: · When I arrived, Diana was already in animated conversation with Mr Summers.be deep in conversation (=so that you do not notice what is happening around you): · The two men were deep in conversation as they walked up the path.
to make an effort to have a conversation with someone, just in order to seem friendly or polite: · I tried to make small talk, but Darden wasn't interested.· "Why did you tell her that?" "I was just making conversation."make polite conversation: · Sheila was sitting next to the boss's wife and felt obliged to make polite conversation.
American informal to talk in a relaxed way to someone you know well: · Mom and Aunt Jo were sitting drinking coffee and visiting.visit with: · I don't see him that often, but I like to go and visit with him when I can.
formal to have a conversation: · We met once and conversed briefly. That was the extent of our acquaintance.converse with: · The conference gave me an opportunity to meet and converse with VIPs in relaxed surroundings.
when people talk to each other using the Internet by typing in what they want to say and having this sent immediately to someone using a computer in a different place: · On-line chat is becoming an increasingly popular way for young people to make new friends.· Log on to live chat this evening and put your questions to your favourite pop stars.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs a TV chat show host (=person who asks the questions on the show) This was one of his favourite chat-up lines (=remark for impressing someone you want to attract).
especially British English an informal friendly conversationchat with· We were just having a chat.
· Are you free later if I call in for a chat?
· Sometimes we go to the cinema or just meet up for a chat.
· Most people enjoy a good chat.
adjectives· Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.
formal:· My manager said he wanted to have a brief chat with me.
spoken British English:· Perhaps I could have a bit of a chat with him.
· We sat down and had a long chat.
· New students sometimes just need to have a friendly chat with someone.
(=a relaxed and usually private one)· I made some coffee and we had a cosy chat.
· Come and see me any time if you want an informal chat about jobs.
· Have a confidential chat with the school nurse.
(=one that other people will not interrupt.)· Let’s go and have a quiet chat over lunch.
(=one had with someone over the internet)· With MSN you can have an online chat with your friends.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a TV chat show host (=person who asks the questions on the show) This was one of his favourite chat-up lines (=remark for impressing someone you want to attract). British English, a talk show American English (=in which famous or interesting people talk to someone about themselves)· She was on the chat show to publicize her new novel.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· A brief chat with auctioneer Robert Smedley gave a good insight into a three-wheel Berkeley 160.· They had a brief chat that Will remembers well.
· Instead John Major invites 200 carefully selected friends along for a cosy chat about how rosy the Tory garden is.· These cosy chats often last longer than the lecture itself, but I don't mind.· By now, an artificially cosy chat with an old school friend would have been irrelevant, even an irritant.
· Quite often, all that is required is a friendly chat to put your mind at rest.
· Usually she loved a good chat, specially with people from the services.· It's not just a question of having a good old chat about the wild 30's.
· They came, not during committee meetings in Whitehall, but after informal chats at ministers' houses during the Easter holiday.· Allow a minute or two of informal chat to relax both of you.· However he has at least promised the bleary-eyed hacks that they can attend an informal chat over breakfast.· Some channels are obviously dedicated to specific topics, for example, but most are merely informal chat limes.· When we are engaged in an informal social chat we are not usually trying to express ourselves succinctly or precisely.· It might be an informal chat with some one or it might be a formal meeting with a group of people.· Although we provided theoretical and practical training in peace-building, the women gained a lot from their informal chats.· I saw a psychiatrist often during my stay, up to once a day, although the sessions seemed more like informal chats.
· His mood had softened after his little chat with Kirsty.· The vice president who had called him into his office for a little chat nodded.· Sit down, my dear, I'd like to have a little chat with you.· She was always seeking him out for one of her little chats.· I think I shall have to postpone our little chat about the job.
· But they talk quite often on the telephone and, when they meet, have long quasi-philosophical chats.· We had a long chat and got to know one another.· They had a long chat in Afrikaans.· We had a long and interesting chat over coffee at a Yonge Street restaurant.· Friday Had a long chat with Dad about which service we should attend.
· So we had a nice chat.
· This led to a new kind of online chat service with the generic name of instant messaging.
NOUN· Across the land, every night, teenagers are yakking online in chat rooms with friends and Net acquaintances.· If you are brand new, you can go to the beginning genealogy chat room.· Joining a chat channel, chat room on chat forum is like arriving at a party.· In Internet chat rooms, backpackers debate carrying guns and pepper spray.· Or you might even run to a chat room.· Now it's on every chat room and on all of the talk-radio shows.· The third kind of traffic centre are the meeting areas where people socialize, such as chat rooms.· At any given time, these chat rooms are full.
· The little feller, now 72, was in Newcastle to record a Tyne Tees Television chat show.· In January I announced that a chat show host's spouse was to appear in EastEnders.· Mr Andreotti has been cleared in two trials, and is now a chat show regular with a dry wit.· The new faces do include chat show host Chrystal Rose and Dily Braimoh.· He will step down before the election, a decision he announced on a chat show.· I think she's trying to do the same now with the chat show.· Its as much a part of being a modern-day star as appearing on chat shows or signing autographs.· Once reviled figures are being rehabilitated on chat shows.
VERB· The two men met yesterday at Tory command in another nearby marginal, Lewisham West, and enjoyed a chat.
I’ve had a long chat with Vinnie.chat about a chat about the weather She was enjoying their friendly little chat. She used to drop in for a chat quite often. → backchatCOLLOCATIONSverbshave a chat· We were just having a chat.call in/round for a chat· Are you free later if I call in for a chat?meet up for a chat· Sometimes we go to the cinema or just meet up for a chat.enjoy a chat· Most people enjoy a good chat.adjectivesa little chat· Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.a brief chat formal:· My manager said he wanted to have a brief chat with me.a bit of a chat spoken British English:· Perhaps I could have a bit of a chat with him.a long chat· We sat down and had a long chat.a friendly chat· New students sometimes just need to have a friendly chat with someone.a cosy chat (=a relaxed and usually private one)· I made some coffee and we had a cosy chat.an informal chat· Come and see me any time if you want an informal chat about jobs.a private/confidential chat· Have a confidential chat with the school nurse.a quiet chat (=one that other people will not interrupt.)· Let’s go and have a quiet chat over lunch.an online chat (=one had with someone over the internet)· With MSN you can have an online chat with your friends.