conversation
/kɒnvəˈseɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
A talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged: she picked up the phone and held a conversation in French [mass noun]: the two men were deep in conversation...
- In conversation we discuss the power of music to get us through those dark nights of the soul.
- We tried to talk to him a few times, but he was not interested in conversation.
- Marriage came up in conversation as I asked him if he would consider getting married.
Synonyms
discussion, talk, chat, gossip, tête-à-tête, heart-to-heart, head-to-head, exchange, dialogue, parley, consultation, conference;
Indian adda;
New Zealand korero
informal confab, jaw, powwow, chit-chat, rap, gas
British informal chinwag, natter, rabbit
Scottish & Northern English informal crack
North American informal bull session, skull session, gabfest, schmooze
Australian informal convo
Australian/New Zealand informal yarn
formal confabulation
rare palaver, colloquy, converse
Phrases
make conversation
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'living among, familiarity, intimacy'): via Old French from Latin conversatio(n-), from the verb conversari (see converse1).
In Latin conversare meant ‘to mix with people’. This is the source of conversation, which once meant ‘living among’ and ‘familiarity or intimacy’. The poet John Milton used the word in this latter sense when he refers in 1645 to ‘the good and peace of wedded conversation’. It could also at one time mean ‘sexual intercourse’, and criminal conversation was a legal term for adultery. The ‘talking’ sense dates from the late 16th century. See also chat