chat

verb

/tʃæt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they chat	/tʃæt/ /tʃæt/
he / she / it chats	/tʃæts/ /tʃæts/
past simple chatted	/ˈtʃætɪd/ /ˈtʃætɪd/
past participle chatted	/ˈtʃætɪd/ /ˈtʃætɪd/
-ing form chatting	/ˈtʃætɪŋ/ /ˈtʃætɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive] to talk in a friendly, informal way to somebody
- I'm sorry I can't stop to chat.
- My wife and his wife got chatting (= started chatting).
- chat to/with somebody My kids spend hours chatting on the phone to their friends.
- chat away Within minutes of being introduced they were chatting away like old friends.
- chat away to/with somebody Everyone here chats away to you as though they've known you for decades.
- chat about something/somebody What were you chatting about?
Extra Examples
- George was in the kitchen chatting to some friends.
- I spent a happy half-hour chatting with a friend.
- They chatted away to each other.
- We chatted briefly about the weather.
- You will have a chance to circulate and chat informally.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- briefly
- amiably
- amicably
- …
preposition
- about
- to
- with
- …
See full entry
[intransitive] to exchange messages with somebody on the internet, when you can see and reply to messages immediately and have a written conversation
- chat (to/with somebody) I've been chatting online with my best friend.
- chat about something/somebody I use social media to chat about stuff as well.
Wordfinder
- access
- blog
- browse
- chat
- google
- navigate
- search engine
- unsubscribe
- visit
- the Web
Topics Phones, email and the interneta2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- briefly
- amiably
- amicably
- …
preposition
- about
- to
- with
- …
See full entry
More Like This Consonant-doubling verbs
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- kid
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- beg
- blog
- bug
- drag
- drug
- flag
- hug
- jog
- log
- mug
- nag
- plug
- bar
- confer
- infer
- occur
- prefer
- refer
- star
- stir
- transfer
- acquit
- admit
- allot
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- clot
- commit
- jut
- knit
- pat
- regret
- rot
- spot
- submit
- appal
- cancel
- channel
- control
- counsel
- enrol
- equal
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- fuel
- fulfil
- label
- level
- marvel
- model
- pedal
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- signal
- travel

Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of chatter.

chat

noun

/tʃæt/

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[countable] a friendly informal conversation
- I just called in for a chat.
- chat with somebody I had a long chat with her.
- chat about somebody/something He always enjoyed a chat about the old days.
see also fireside chat
Synonyms discussion
discussion
- conversation
- dialogue
- talk
- debate
- consultation
- chat
- gossip
These are all words for an occasion when people talk about something.
- discussion a detailed conversation about something that is considered to be important:
  Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders.
- conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way:
  a telephone conversation
- dialogue conversations in a book, play or film:
  The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue.
  A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute:
  The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.
- talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or something important for the people involved:
  I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects.
- debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue:
  a debate on prison reform
- consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about something:
  There have been extensive consultations between the two countries.
- chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking. The countable use of chat is especially British English: I just called in for a chat about the kids.
- gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives:
  We had a good gossip about the boss.
Patterns
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about something
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on something
- in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation with somebody
- to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip with somebody
- to hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation
Extra Examples
- We had a nice chat over a cup of tea.
- a chat about his new job
- a chat between Mrs May and a journalist
- a friendly chat with a colleague
- I just called in for a chat about the kids.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- brief
- little
- quick
- …
verb + chat
- have
preposition
- chat about
- chat between
- chat to
- …
See full entry
[uncountable] talking, especially informal conversation
- After a few more minutes of chat, she left.
- That's enough chat from me—on with the music!
- They say he's already married, but it's just idle chat.
- chat with somebody He would never engage in chat with the servants.
- chat about somebody/something There was some general chat about the weather before the interview started.
Synonyms discussion
discussion
- conversation
- dialogue
- talk
- debate
- consultation
- chat
- gossip
These are all words for an occasion when people talk about something.
- discussion a detailed conversation about something that is considered to be important:
  Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders.
- conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way:
  a telephone conversation
- dialogue conversations in a book, play or film:
  The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue.
  A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute:
  The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.
- talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or something important for the people involved:
  I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects.
- debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue:
  a debate on prison reform
- consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about something:
  There have been extensive consultations between the two countries.
- chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking. The countable use of chat is especially British English: I just called in for a chat about the kids.
- gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives:
  We had a good gossip about the boss.
Patterns
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about something
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on something
- in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation with somebody
- to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip with somebody
- to hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation
see also chit-chat
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- idle
chat + noun
- show
- line
See full entry
[uncountable, countable] communication between people on the internet in which they see and reply to messages immediately and have a written conversation
- Fans are invited to an online chat.
- a guide to internet chat safety for children
- chat with somebody You can take part in a live chat with the movie's director this afternoon.
- chat about somebody/something There was much chat about it on internet message boards.
- chat software
- internet chat services
see also web chatTopics Phones, email and the interneta2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- Internet
- live
- online
- …
chat + noun
- forum
- group
- room
- …
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of chatter.