speech
/spiːtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /spiːtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspēch/ (ame, mw)
speech — noun
- speechsingular
- speechesplural
1. the natural human capacity to produce words with the mouth and communicate thoug
the natural human capacity to produce words with the mouth and communicate thoughts and feelings, or a single act of saying something
Wren lost her speech for a few days after the surgery on her throat.
uncountable: lost her speech (faculty)
Hiro's first speech as a baby was the word 'book'.
countable: first speech (an utterance)
The doctor said the patient's speech would return slowly over several weeks.
Children usually develop speech long before they learn to read or write.
Élise could understand everything but her speech was still unclear after the stroke.
- talk
less formal and often shorter than a planned speech
- utterance
more technical; refers to any single spoken word or phrase
- verbal communication
broader; includes listening as well as speaking
文法句型
uncountable for faculty/activity
countable for an utterance
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the general ability or activity ('speech is a complex skill'). Countable when referring to a single spoken remark or short utterance ('his parting speech was barely a whisper').
常見錯誤
2. a prepared talk delivered to a group of listeners, often on an important or spec
a prepared talk delivered to a group of listeners, often on an important or special occasion such as a wedding, ceremony, conference, or political rally
The bride's father gave a moving speech at the wedding reception.
collocation: give a speech
The president's speech about climate change lasted nearly forty minutes.
Salma was very nervous before her speech, but the audience clapped warmly at the end.
The CEO delivered a short speech announcing the company's new plans for the coming year.
Winning candidates usually make a victory speech thanking their supporters and family.
- talk
less formal; may be shorter and more interactive
- lecture
educational or academic; aims to teach
- address
more formal; used for important public occasions
- presentation
often includes visual aids like slides
文法句型
give/deliver/make a speech
speech about/on [topic]
用法筆記
Common verbs: give a speech (most neutral), deliver a speech (more formal), make a speech (common in British English). The topic is introduced by 'about' or 'on' (a speech about education / a speech on the economy).
常見錯誤
3. the particular sound, speed, choice of words, and patterns that a person uses wh
the particular sound, speed, choice of words, and patterns that a person uses when talking, which often reveals their background, mood, or personality
Shanti's speech is very slow and careful because she thinks a lot before she speaks.
possessive + speech (individual manner)
The old professor had a formal speech that made every sentence sound like a lecture.
Beatriz could tell from the caller's speech that she was from somewhere in the north of England.
Adina's rapid speech sometimes makes it hard for her students to catch every word.
Justin's speech became much more relaxed after he moved from the big city to the countryside.
- manner of speaking
more explicit and slightly more formal
- diction
focuses on clarity of pronunciation and word choice
- delivery
focuses on the way something is spoken in a performance or presentation
文法句型
usually with possessive or modifier
用法筆記
This sense is nearly always used with a possessive or modifying adjective (his speech, her rapid speech, the child's speech). Without a modifier, 'speech' defaults to sense 1 (the faculty).
常見錯誤
4. the type of language that people use when speaking out loud, which is often less
the type of language that people use when speaking out loud, which is often less formal and more flexible than the language used in writing
Soraya's English is excellent but her speech still sounds a bit too much like formal writing.
speech contrasted with writing
In everyday speech, people often say 'gonna' instead of 'going to'.
The linguist recorded hours of natural speech from villagers to study the local dialect.
Linh's written reports are perfect, but her speech is full of the informal shortcuts she learned from friends.
Imran noticed that his grandfather's speech was full of old-fashioned words that young people never use anymore.
- spoken language
more technical and explicit; the full term
- oral language
used in linguistics and education contexts
- talk
informal; overlaps but is less precise about the spoken-vs-written contrast
- writing
the opposite mode of language production
- written language
the formal counterpart to speech
文法句型
usually uncountable
用法筆記
Often contrasted explicitly with 'writing'. Common in academic contexts (spoken vs written discourse). Uncountable only — you do not say 'a speech' for this sense.
常見錯誤
5. the words that a character speaks during a play, film, or television show as par
the words that a character speaks during a play, film, or television show as part of the story's dialogue
The actor forgot his speech during the second act and had to be helped by another cast member.
Jessica had only one short speech in the whole play, but she delivered it perfectly.
countable: one speech (a set of lines)
The director cut half of the main character's speech because it slowed down the scene.
In the film script, the villain's final speech reveals why he betrayed his friends.
Young actors often practice their speeches in front of a mirror to build confidence.
文法句型
countable for a specific set of lines
uncountable as a category
用法筆記
This is a countable sense — actors have 'a speech' or 'speeches'. It is specific to performance contexts. Do not confuse with a 'speech' as a formal talk (sense 5); an actor's speech is dialogue written by a playwright, not the actor's own words.