speak

v

1. converse, talk, discuss, chat, chitchat, confabulate, Inf. confab, coze, pass the time of day, Brit. Dial. tell, Sl. yap, Sl. rap, Sl. chin, Sl. chew the fat or the rag, Sl. shoot the breeze, Sl. bull.

2. communicate, inform, advise, apprise, notify, give notice to, give word to, mention to, point out, bring to [s.o.'s] attention, let know, have one to know, give one to understand, enlighten, clue in, Inf. open [s.o.'s] eyes; convey, relate, put across, get across; disclose, reveal, divulge, bring out, make known, lay open.

3. say, utter, express, breathe, whisper, give or let out, come out with, blurt out; speak up, speak out, open one's mouth, Inf. pipe up; (of a dog) bark.

4. articulate, enunciate, enounce, pronounce, voice, vocalize.

5. discourse, make a speech, give a talk, deliver an address, address, soapbox, platform; declaim, hold forth, orate, lecture, sermonize, preach, pontificate; harangue, rant, out-herod Herod, Inf. spout; spiel, Australian Sl. spruik.

6. signify, import, point to, give a token or sign of, betoken, bespeak; show, demonstrate, display, evince, exhibit, manifest, betray, give away; indicate, imply, intimate; mean, denote, connote, suggest, purport.

7. so to speak

as it were, in a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking, metaphorically speaking.

8. speak for

represent, act for, act in behalf of, intercede for; defend, advocate, support, uphold, contend for, Inf. stick up for, Inf. stand up for; recommend, put in a good word for.

9. speak out

proclaim, announce, herald; have one's way, take the floor; affirm, assert, aver, asseverate, avow, avouch, declare, protest.

10. speak well of

commend, speak highly of, describe in glowing terms or colors, have a good word for; promote, cry up, puff, sing the praises of, Inf. boost, Sl. tout, Sl. plug, Sl. hype