3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Speech  \Speech\,  n.  [OE.  speche,  AS  sp?c,  spr?,  fr  specan, 
  sprecan  to  speak;  akin  to  D.  spraak  speech,  OHG.  spr[=a]hha, 
  G.  sprache  Sw  spr?k,  Dan.  sprog.  See  {Speak}.] 
  1.  The  faculty  of  uttering  articulate  sounds  or  words  the 
  faculty  of  expressing  thoughts  by  words  or  articulate 
  sounds;  the  power  of  speaking. 
 
  There  is  none  comparable  to  the  variety  of 
  instructive  expressions  by  speech,  wherewith  man 
  alone  is  endowed  for  the  communication  of  his 
  thoughts.  --Holder. 
 
  2.  he  act  of  speaking;  that  which  is  spoken;  words  as 
  expressing  ideas;  language;  conversation. 
 
  Note:  Speech  is  voice  modulated  by  the  throat,  tongue,  lips, 
  etc.,  the  modulation  being  accomplished  by  changing  the 
  form  of  the  cavity  of  the  mouth  and  nose  through  the 
  action  of  muscles  which  move  their  walls. 
 
  O  goode  God!  how  gentle  and  how  kind  Ye  seemed  by 
  your  speech  and  your  visage  The  day  that  maked 
  was  our  marriage.  --Chaucer. 
 
  The  acts  of  God  .  .  .  to  human  ears  Can  nort 
  without  process  of  speech  be  told.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  A  particular  language,  as  distinct  from  others  a  tongue; 
  a  dialect. 
 
  People  of  a  strange  speech  and  of  an  hard  language. 
  --Ezek.  iii. 
  6. 
 
  4.  Talk;  mention;  common  saying. 
 
  The  duke  .  .  .  did  of  me  demand  What  was  the  speech 
  among  the  Londoners  Concerning  the  French  journey. 
  --Shak. 
 
  5.  formal  discourse  in  public;  oration;  harangue. 
 
  The  constant  design  of  these  orators,  in  all  their 
  speeches,  was  to  drive  some  one  particular  point. 
  --Swift. 
 
  6.  ny  declaration  of  thoughts. 
 
  I.  with  leave  of  speech  implored,  .  .  .  replied. 
  --Milton. 
 
  Syn:  Syn.  Harangue;  language;  address;  oration.  See 
  {Harangue},  and  {Language}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Speech  \Speech\,  v.  i.  &  t. 
  To  make  a  speech;  to  harangue.  [R.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  speech 
  n  1:  a  formal  spoken  communication  delivered  to  an  audience;  "he 
  listened  to  an  address  on  minor  Roman  poets"  [syn:  {address}] 
  2:  communication  by  word  of  mouth;  "his  speech  was  slurred"; 
  "he  uttered  harsh  language";  "he  recorded  the  language  of 
  the  streets"  [syn:  {spoken  language},  {language},  {oral 
  communication}] 
  3:  something  spoken;  "he  could  hear  them  uttering  merry 
  speeches" 
  4:  the  exchange  of  spoken  words  "they  were  perfectly 
  comfortable  together  without  speech" 
  5:  your  characteristic  style  or  manner  of  expressing  yourself 
  orally;  "his  manner  of  speaking  was  quite  abrupt";  "her 
  speech  was  barren  of  southernisms";  "I  detected  a  slight 
  accent  in  his  speech"  [syn:  {manner  of  speaking},  {delivery}] 
  6:  a  lengthy  rebuke;  "a  good  lecture  was  my  father's  idea  of 
  discipline";  "the  teacher  gave  him  a  talking  to"  [syn:  {lecture}, 
  {talking  to}] 
  7:  words  making  up  the  dialogue  of  a  play;  "the  actor  forgot 
  his  lines"  [syn:  {actor's  line},  {words}] 
  8:  the  mental  faculty  or  power  of  vocal  communication; 
  "language  sets  homo  sapiens  apart  from  all  other  animals" 
  [syn:  {language}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words