to utter words or articulate sounds with the voice; to talk
to express thoughts or feelings in this way
to exchange remarks with someone, esp in greeting
to greet and have normal or polite relations with somebody or each other
We're not speaking at the moment
to make a formal speech or address
formal (+ to) to comment on or deal with a particular point in the course of a speech, etc
I shall speak to that issue shortly
(+ for) to act as spokesman for somebody else
I am speaking for the whole group
to express thoughts or feelings in writing
The article speaks about recent discoveries
to express thoughts or feelings by other than verbal means
Actions speak louder than words
to make a communication; to convey meaning or significance
(+ of) to be indicative or suggestive of a fact or circumstance
His battered shoes spoke of a long journey
to make a characteristic or natural sound
All at once the thunder spoke — George Meredith
said of a hunting hound: to bark
to use or be able to use (a language) in oral communication
He speaks good Spanish
to utter (e.g. a word) with the speaking voice
to express (something) with the voice
to make (something) known in writing
to convey (something) by other than verbal means; to reveal
His eyes spoke affection
used as an apologetic qualification for an unusual, accidentally punning, or ambiguous phrase
The ball is, so to speak, back in the manager's court
to speak in an unintelligible language when ecstatic during religious worship
to say frankly what one thinks
to convey a great deal of information by means other than words
a frown that spoke volumes
(usu in negative contexts ) worthy of mention or notice
no talent to speak of