talenttal‧ent /ˈtælənt/ ●●● W3 noun 
He has a lot of talent, and his work is fresh and interesting.talent for She showed a talent for acting at an early age. a persuasive speaker with a natural talent for leadership His latest book reveals hidden talents. Sadly, she inherited none of her father’s musical talent. Your brother is a man of many talents. There’s a wealth of talent in English football.► see thesaurus at skill2[uncountable] a person or people with a natural ability or skill: Britain’s footballing talent3[uncountable] British English informal sexually attractive peopleCOLLOCATIONSverbshave talent· Greg has a real talent for drawing.show talent· Zach was the only one who showed any natural talent.use your talents· They have been using their artistic talents to brighten up the school.develop your talent· Education allows people to develop their talents to the full.waste your talents· They felt their son was wasting his talents and his time.somebody’s talents flourish (=develop successfully)· The school created an atmosphere in which young talent could flourish.adjectivesgreat/considerable/exceptional talent· He had a great talent for making money.real talent· She has real talent and with a little help she could go far.natural talent· Ronaldo is a player of immense natural talent.raw talent (=used to describe someone with natural ability who has not had much training)· He’s got lots of raw talent but he needs a good coach.a hidden talent· Have a go – you may discover a hidden talent!musical/artistic/creative etc talent· It was at school that Brian’s musical talents were spotted.talent + NOUNa talent contest/show/competition· Don’t assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.phrasesa wealth of talent (=a large amount of talent)· There’s a wealth of musical talent in New York and other large American cities.a pool of talent (=lots of talented people)· Employers can draw on an enormous pool of talent in this area.
WORD ORIGINtalent
Origin:
1400-1500 talent unit of weight or money in the ancient world (9-21 centuries), from Latin talentum, from Greek talanton; from a story in the Bible in which a man gives talents to his three servants, and two of them use them wellEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- As a singer, she's a great talent.
- I never knew you were so good at making speeches. Do you have any other hidden talents?
- John Lennon's talent as a songwriter was matched by McCartney's talent as a composer.
- Porter has a talent for making a difficult subject understandable and interesting.
- Teachers soon recognized and encouraged his talent for sculpture.
- The NBA is even searching grade schools for talent.
- Woods was chosen to play the cop because of his acting talent.
- You need talent and hard work to be a tennis player.
- A great talent here, and a veritable rubber man.
- He owes everything to his talents...
- Local officials will speechify on Friday, followed by amateur talent performances.
- Others are noticing the impact of her talents.
- The Blueprint Dance group has been set up to give young talent a chance to flourish away from the capital.
- The former requires minimal talent, hard work and a lot of luck.
- Unfortunately, the talent level took a definite drop by the late-1980s.
THESAURUS
[countable, uncountable] an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practised it: · He plays the piano with great skill.· communication/language/computer etc skills· The course will help you improve your communication skills.
[countable, uncountable] a natural ability to do something well which can be developed with practice: · She was a young artist with a lot of talent.· She showed a talent for acting from an early age.· He is a man of many talents.
[uncountable] very great ability, which only a few people have: · The opera shows Mozart’s genius as a composer.· Picasso was a painter of genius.
[countable] a natural ability to do something very well, which you were born with: · You can see that he has a gift for the game.· Winterson has great gifts as a writer.
[singular, uncountable] skill for doing something, especially something that needs imagination and creativity: · The job does require some creative flair.· She has a flair for languages.
[uncountable] specialized knowledge of a technical subject, which you get from experience of doing that type of work: · The technical expertise for building the dam is being provided by a US company.
[singular] informal a special skill for doing a particular thing, especially a simple everyday thing: · Breadmaking is easy once you get the knack.· He has a knack for making people feel relaxed.
Longman Language Activatorthe ability to do something well the ability to do something well especially because you have learned and practised it: · Most of us learn the knowledge and skills needed to drive a car fairly easily.· The Australians played with great skill and determination.computer/management/language etc skills: · You need good communication skills for this job.skill in: · On the course you will develop skills in business management.with skill: · Price handles the role of the angry wife with great skill.
the ability to do something well, either because you have learned how to do it or because you are naturally good at it: · Maria will be a fine musician; she shows a lot of ability.ability to do something: · No one doubts his ability to get work done quickly.spelling/reading/writing etc ability (=the level of ability in spelling, reading etc): · The children are divided into groups according to their reading ability.
a natural ability to do something very well: · John Lennon's talent as a songwriter was matched by McCartney's talent as a composer.have a talent for doing something: · Porter has a talent for making a difficult subject understandable and interesting.talent for: · Teachers soon recognized and encouraged his talent for sculpture.hidden talents (=ones that people do not know about): · I never knew you were so good at making speeches. Do you have any other hidden talents?
a special ability to do something very well and in a way that shows a lot of imagination: · Being a good salesman requires skill, flair, and a good knowledge of your product.· One of the best new players, he shows flair and creativity at the game.have a flair for something: · If you have a flair for languages, there are some good career opportunities in Europe.
to have a special skill or ability that you usually gain by practice: have a knack for doing something: · She has a knack for making everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.have a knack for: · The family seems to have a knack for success in business.
the special skill that someone uses to make something beautiful with their hands: · Hopi baskets are beautiful in both color and craftsmanship.· Fabergé eggs are famous for their intricate craftsmanship.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs He wants each pupil to have the chance to discover hidden talents. Friends from the theater criticized him for prostituting his talent in the movies.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· Greg has a real talent for drawing.
· Zach was the only one who showed any natural talent.
· They have been using their artistic talents to brighten up the school.
· Education allows people to develop their talents to the full.
· They felt their son was wasting his talents and his time.
(=develop successfully)· The school created an atmosphere in which young talent could flourish.
adjectives· He had a great talent for making money.
· She has real talent and with a little help she could go far.
· Ronaldo is a player of immense natural talent.
(=used to describe someone with natural ability who has not had much training)· He’s got lots of raw talent but he needs a good coach.
· Have a go – you may discover a hidden talent!
· It was at school that Brian’s musical talents were spotted.
talent + NOUN· Don’t assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.
phrases (=a large amount of talent)· There’s a wealth of musical talent in New York and other large American cities.
(=lots of talented people)· Employers can draw on an enormous pool of talent in this area.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=to find the best performer)· She's singing a song in the school talent contest.
· He showed exceptional talent even as a youngster.
He wants each pupil to have the chance to discover hidden talents. Friends from the theater criticized him for prostituting his talent in the movies.· Club owner Sergei Lissovsky is well aware that most of his performers are lacking in artistic talent.· In many ways, this was a good decision, mainly because I have no artistic talent.· Birch showed considerable mechanical and artistic talent at an early age.· His artistic talent combines with a wry humour - a man on a toilet is hidden in each of the intricate drawings.
· Lear was an artist of considerable talent.· He is said to have a good classical education, and is a Gentleman of considerable literary talents.· Himmler needed his brains and his considerable talents and that was enough.· But this is to ignore his considerable talent to inspire the friendship and devotion of others.· There is no evidence that his empire makes sense - beyond engaging his own considerable talents.· Morrissey engaged the considerable managerial talents of Gail Colson, who also, significantly, manages Peter Gabriel.· The show is a tribute as well as a memorial to a very considerable talent.
· Manifestations Gifts Creative talents in arts, literature, the performing arts.· But a visit to a local physician for a routine checkup sparked a new focus for her creative talents.· Courses are designed to suit both boys and girls, and creative and aesthetic talents and are also encouraged.· Meanwhile, the London-based ad firm was scrambling to rejuvenate the account, bringing in creative talent from their Southern California office.· Voice over It's an inspiration for their creative talents.· Agencies are always hungry for creative talent.· Due to the low pay offered the likelihood was that anyone with creative talent would be attracted to a better-paid job elsewhere.
· Leo, who is credited with encouraging all of this exceptional musical talent, used to run a showband in the Fifties.· Said later that he s an exceptional talent and only bad luck stopped him scoring, and to keep plugging away.· Secondly, there is no proof that exceptional talents are required for those positions which Davis and Moore consider important.
· It uses the best talents available to produce promotional materials to recruit new members.· New owners in San Diego paid to bring in good talent, and the team record and attendance have improved dramatically.· Companies that offer opportunities for self-improvement therefore benefit by attracting and retaining the best talent.· I think I have a good talent and I just keep working on it.· It was an enterprising project on a small budget; making the best of local talent.· It is an environment where corporations will seek out the best talent anyplace in the world.· Again, because of the confidentiality and the need to attract the best possible talent, executive search firms are often called in.· Some have pointed out with justice that the Max Planck Institutes have bled away the best research talent from the universities.
· A great talent here, and a veritable rubber man.· There is great talent at other offensive positions, too.· Either that, or like amateur actors of no great talent taking part in some grotty costume play.· In Great Groups, talent comes alive.· Their great talents could not be less alike, and it is indeed fascinating to compare these remarkably differing virtues.· He had squandered his great gifts of talent, intellect, and personal magnetism.· When he went, Kenny had lost a friend and a player of great talent and status at the same time.· She tried to teach him how to play the piano, but he had no great talent for it.
· The Wyvern production has drawn heavily on local talent.· Opening will be a top roster of local talent, along with Chicago-based pianist / vocalist Judy Roberts.· It was obviously far more interesting to spend his time chatting up the local talent.· This reliance on local initiative and talent has also accelerated the involvement of small entrepreneurs.· It recognised local talent from the whole region.· Both festivals depend more on outside musicians than local talent.· He had a list of all the local acting talent.· Sometimes outside consultants were used in the workshops, a refreshing blend of local and imported talents and experiences.
· Now, she gave him an unmatched musical talent too.· Leo, who is credited with encouraging all of this exceptional musical talent, used to run a showband in the Fifties.· But it was at school that Brian's musical talents flourished.· Those with musical talent had band or singing practice.· Early musical talent won June a scholarship at Stephen's College, Missouri.· After all, musical talent is often considered highly linked to mathematical ability, except when discussing black performers.· To raise the money, we sold an organ bought a year before to encourage any musical talent hidden in our offspring.
· It was apparent from that day that he had a natural talent that was waiting to be developed.· He would like that, the two of us with the same natural talent.· Hoomey, Nutty would have said, had no natural talent.· The trick for families who want to make fitness a priority and yet lack natural talent may be twofold, experts say.· To achieve that status, a player needs - besides a natural talent - a burning inner ambition.· He had said that Joe possessed a natural talent for political news and should seek opportunities in that direction.· He has such a natural raw talent it would be a waste to keep him hanging on.· But he forgot his natural talents such as hunting and speaking to other whales.
· The lack of strong leadership in the independent sector reflected the absence of any new producer talent.· We only visit the best eleven or twelve law schools to look for new talent.· Like all booking agents, they have to be very hot on new talent.· Word of mouth can draw new talent to a Great Group, as it did at Black Mountain.· For the next three months, the museum's running a competition to find new cartooning talent.· In one of our last conversations he made this observation: Most of the new managers have talent.· Two other sources are becoming more productive of new talent. one is lawyers and the other is accountants.· John Major should have more chance to recruit new talent to his Cabinet after the turbulence of 1992.
· As a result, agents are becoming even more cagey about developing raw talent.· Now he has channelled that aggression and raw talent to produce a golden combination of motivation and power.· He has such a natural raw talent it would be a waste to keep him hanging on.· It's a raw talent but she knows how to use it and she's unafraid.· She was not a great trainer, but her raw talent was undeniable.· But although graft is indispensable, it is no replacement for raw talent.
· Zach was the only one who showed any real talent and he was more of a performer than an actor.· He was good at law, but his real talent was making up new laws.· Or better still, make a real talent show instead.· But it takes real talent to nurture them.· Stop plastering Vic all over your music paper and make way for some real talent.· But one major turning point came when she started going to carpentry evening classes and found she had real talent for do-it-yourself.· The transformation has been incredible, with a real flow of talent coming through.· Fitzgerald came into the job with a playing track record which suggested he had a real talent for leadership.
· The Equity rules demand the use of actors unless a special skill or talent is required.· Do they have special talents that contribute to team productivity?· And all that in one week, it must have been one of Madame's special amateur talent weeks I suppose.· Meanwhile Cyrus is trying to think of a special talent, but it is still hopeless.· He knew them all, but somehow his special talents always failed to impress those who really mattered.· This team is powerful, everybody has special talents.· She has a very special talent and her work is completely fresh.· It was a special talent to be a good panelist.
· A manager who's able to get the best use out of the young talent still at the Oval.· Dayton is a young Gentleman of talents, with an ambition to exert them.· The Blueprint Dance group has been set up to give young talent a chance to flourish away from the capital.· But for up-and-coming teams, the ones with young talent who live in or near lottery-land, Barkley is useless.· There is no reason why Edinburgh should not develop its own range of street furniture designed by some of our young talents.· They feel the need to inject young and hungry talent into the bank's deliberations at the highest level.· Now that it is a more viable way of getting the best possible house, young design talent could quickly transform domestic building.· The reality, they argue, is that the clubs incorporate young talent into their academies.
NOUN· Finally, don't assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.· The talent contest had taken place in a marquee.
· A talent scout heard him sing - actually it was at that performance at the Hall.· With Simmons handling business matters, Rubin acted as talent scout -- and what talent he found!· It was during one of these that he was spotted by a talent scout and signed up by Warner Brothers.· As a bandleader, songwriter, and talent scout, Otis was a real force in the Los Angeles scene.· We check this information with our talent scouts.· Krause has always fancied himself a keen talent scout first.· We need these people to be our filters and talent scouts, going out to gigs and finding new bands.· Wilson's reputation as a talent scout ensured that she was not out in the cold for long.
· They had already recorded a performance for a television talent show, but died a few days before it was broadcast.· The first act in the talent show is the Great Gregorini, a magician.· To register for the talent show, call 792-0219.
VERB· Organization can pool abilities, share loads, bring in local talents and interest, identity sources.· For your part, you will bring your undoubted talent as well as your customers to the business.· New owners in San Diego paid to bring in good talent, and the team record and attendance have improved dramatically.· A £500,000 deal was eventually agreed to bring his scoring talents to the North-East.· Tonight he brings his talent back to town as part of the Make a Date With a Poet series.· Meanwhile, the London-based ad firm was scrambling to rejuvenate the account, bringing in creative talent from their Southern California office.
· Students dreaded being assigned to these small towns where there were few opportunities to develop their talents or lead an interesting life.· Some of their work, he felt, was terrific, and they should be able to display and develop their talent.· But he must belatedly develop three crucial talents.· Employee Development Programs help employees develop their talents and capacities through training sessions, workshops, and the like.· But if you want to develop your talents further, get involved in a group effort.· Like most of her friends, she had an aristocratic indifference to the develop ment of talent.· Education promotes not only economic growth but social justice too, and allows people to develop their talents to the full.· All you can do is develop the talents people have.
· There promises to be something for everyone and you never know - you may discover a hidden talent!· When Cortez discovered her linguistic talents, he depended upon her for translations and advice.· Our aim is more to discover writing talent in a science student than scientific aptitude in a budding journalist.· All girls and boys, from every background, must be able to discover their talents and fulfil their potential.· It was not hard to discover contemporary instances of talent struggling against a lack of education.· Written and directed by newcomer David Beaird, this is your chance to discover an emerging talent.· With the intensification of international traffic, it is possible to discover new talent in any part of the world.· He discovers he has a talent for predicting the future, but ironically this privilege only increases his sense of the present.
· He played himself all the time, using his characters to display his many theatrical talents.· Some of their work, he felt, was terrific, and they should be able to display and develop their talent.· The subject is open to both girls and boys - many of whom you will see displaying their talents today.· A State Department spokesman, also displaying a talent for diplomacy, declined to characterize the appointment as a promotion.· The twelve cameos, each written to display the talents of individual instrumentalists, made an enchanting effect.· The Beecher household displayed something of the talent avail-able and the human damage to family members that accompanied the strivings.· Although the faster material was thrillingly honed, it was the ballads that most effectively displayed Portuondo's talents.· By betraying their plot Victor Amadeus displayed a precocious talent for duplicity and a cool sense of his own interests.
· Jabelman was privately educated, and had nurtured his talent as a painter at art school.
· And they were not fools: they could spot talent.· It was during one of these that he was spotted by a talent scout and signed up by Warner Brothers.
· Many of you who do use your talents and prosper in the business may fall victim to its pressures.· All too often research and staff turnover testify to a failure to use the talents of people already employed in the enterprise.· If you can use your talents not to stay poor you should.· It uses the best talents available to produce promotional materials to recruit new members.· Presenters with ratings problems might attempt to use their talents in politics.· Obstacles which prevent young people from using their talents at home must be swept out of the way, he said.· No doubt, before that you used the cruder talents of Jem and Eric.
· Elizabeth: No, I don't, and I get very cross when people say that he wasted his talent.· We wasted a source of talent and got Soviet-trained bureaucrats who had no idea what to do.· Just because he went to Hollywood and was paid a lot of money doesn't mean he was wasting his talent.· But because he was so likable and seemed to be wasting so much talent, teachers and counselors tried to help.· How he'd changed and refused to go on and now was wasting his talent.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable, uncountable] a natural ability to do something well: - As a result, agents are becoming even more cagey about developing raw talent.
- But although graft is indispensable, it is no replacement for raw talent.
- He has such a natural raw talent it would be a waste to keep him hanging on.
- It's a raw talent but she knows how to use it and she's unafraid.
- Now he has channelled that aggression and raw talent to produce a golden combination of motivation and power.
- She was not a great trainer, but her raw talent was undeniable.
He has a lot of talent, and his work is fresh and interesting.talent for She showed a talent for acting at an early age. a persuasive speaker with a natural talent for leadership His latest book reveals hidden talents. Sadly, she inherited none of her father’s musical talent. Your brother is a man of many talents. There’s a wealth of talent in English football.► see thesaurus at skill2[uncountable] a person or people with a natural ability or skill: Britain’s footballing talent3[uncountable] British English informal sexually attractive peopleCOLLOCATIONSverbshave talent· Greg has a real talent for drawing.show talent· Zach was the only one who showed any natural talent.use your talents· They have been using their artistic talents to brighten up the school.develop your talent· Education allows people to develop their talents to the full.waste your talents· They felt their son was wasting his talents and his time.somebody’s talents flourish (=develop successfully)· The school created an atmosphere in which young talent could flourish.adjectivesgreat/considerable/exceptional talent· He had a great talent for making money.real talent· She has real talent and with a little help she could go far.natural talent· Ronaldo is a player of immense natural talent.raw talent (=used to describe someone with natural ability who has not had much training)· He’s got lots of raw talent but he needs a good coach.a hidden talent· Have a go – you may discover a hidden talent!musical/artistic/creative etc talent· It was at school that Brian’s musical talents were spotted.talent + NOUNa talent contest/show/competition· Don’t assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.phrasesa wealth of talent (=a large amount of talent)· There’s a wealth of musical talent in New York and other large American cities.a pool of talent (=lots of talented people)· Employers can draw on an enormous pool of talent in this area.