talk
/tɔːk/ (bre, ipa) · /tɔːk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtȯk/ (ame, mw) · /tɑːk/ (ame, ipa)
talk — verb
- talkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- talkshe / she / it
- talkedpast simple
- talking-ing form
1. to produce spoken words that let you share your thoughts with another person
to produce spoken words that let you share your thoughts with another person
Bao talked to his neighbour about the broken fence between their gardens.
talk to someone about something
The little girl is learning to talk and now says about ten words.
intransitive: no object needed
Defne talked with the nurse for an hour about her mother's recovery.
Mizuki and Sivan talked quietly in the hospital corridor so the baby would stay asleep.
Jenna talked on the phone with her cousin until past midnight.
- listen
receive spoken words rather than produce them
文法句型
talk to someone
talk with someone
talk about something
talk on the phone
常見錯誤
2. to exchange ideas and opinions with other people on a certain topic
to exchange ideas and opinions with other people on a certain topic
Lakshmi and her colleagues talked about the new office rules during lunch.
talk about + topic
Caio loves to talk football with anyone who will give him five minutes.
talk + topic (no preposition)
The neighbours gathered on the pavement to talk about the noise from the building site.
At the weekly meeting, Jude talked about her plans for the summer book fair.
Eshe and Hoa talked of travelling to South America together when they both retired.
- discuss
more formal; the standard word in academic and professional settings
- debate
implies arguing opposing views, often in a structured format
- chat about
informal; light, casual exchange on a topic
文法句型
talk about something
talk politics/business/sport
talk of something
用法筆記
Without a preposition ('talk politics'), the verb is transitive and the object names the topic area — common with broad subjects like politics, business, or sport.
3. to have a serious conversation with someone about a difficulty or disagreement,
to have a serious conversation with someone about a difficulty or disagreement, hoping to find a way forward
Mizuki talked to her flatmate about the dirty dishes and they agreed on a cleaning schedule.
talk to someone about a problem
The two neighbours need to talk before the argument over the fence gets worse.
Sivan sat down with his son to talk through the boy's worries about starting school.
Sivan and Eshe talked it over for an hour at the kitchen table and finally reached a decision.
Eshe talked with her brother about caring for their father and they agreed to share the costs.
文法句型
talk to someone about a problem
talk things through
talk it over
用法筆記
Often used with 'through' or 'over' when the object is a problem or situation rather than a person.
4. to speak in front of a group, sharing knowledge or teaching them about something
to speak in front of a group, sharing knowledge or teaching them about something
Eleni talked to the students about her years working as a marine biologist.
talk to + audience about + subject
Professor Okonkwo talked on ancient trade routes for nearly an hour.
talk on + subject (formal academic style)
Hoa was invited to talk about climate policy at the town hall this Friday.
A police officer talked to the parents about keeping children safe online.
Sora talked on the history of Korean pottery at the community centre last month.
文法句型
talk on a subject
talk about a subject to an audience
用法筆記
Often used with 'on' for more formal, academic presentations and with 'about' for less formal talks. 'Talk to' specifies the audience.
5. to give away secret information, often after being pressured or questioned for s
to give away secret information, often after being pressured or questioned for some time
The suspect finally talked after six hours of questioning at the station.
intransitive: talk = confess information
The captured journalist refused to talk, even when her captors threatened her.
Someone in accounts talked and now the whole floor knows about the merger.
Detectives Bao and Jude tried everything at the police station to make the prisoner talk, but he stayed silent.
- withhold
to deliberately refuse to give information that is asked for
文法句型
talk (under questioning)
make someone talk
refuse to talk
用法筆記
Always intransitive in this sense. The subject is a person who knows secrets. Common in contexts of interrogation, espionage, or workplace gossip.
talk — noun
- talksingular
- talksplural
1. an exchange of spoken words between people, usually focused on one topic
an exchange of spoken words between people, usually focused on one topic
Bao had a long talk with his manager about taking on more responsibility.
have a talk with someone about something
Defne asked the teacher for a private talk after the other children had gone home.
a private talk
The two friends sat on the riverbank and had a talk about their schooldays.
After a short talk with the nurse, Jenna felt much calmer about the treatment.
- conversation
more formal and neutral; the standard word for spoken exchanges
- chat
informal, light conversation about unimportant things
- discussion
implies a more focused exchange, often about a serious or specific matter
2. a formal presentation spoken to an audience, meant to inform or teach them about
a formal presentation spoken to an audience, meant to inform or teach them about something
Mizuki gave a talk on traditional paper-making at the craft museum last Sunday.
give a talk on + subject
The geography teacher's talk about volcanoes kept the class interested for two hours.
Sivan went to a talk by a well-known author at the city book festival.
The university library hosts free lunchtime talks every Wednesday in the main hall.
- lecture
more formal; usually longer and in a university or educational setting
- speech
can be for any occasion; often political, ceremonial, or celebratory
- presentation
usually includes slides or visual aids, common in business and academia
3. official meetings where groups hold structured conversations, trying to reach an
official meetings where groups hold structured conversations, trying to reach an agreement or settle issues
Peace talks between the two neighbouring countries started in Vienna on Tuesday.
peace talks
Trade talks with the island nations have dragged on for nearly eight months.
trade talks
The union leaders began talks with the rail company over pay and weekend hours.
Talks between union leaders and factory bosses broke down in Brussels after neither side would budge on pay.
- negotiations
emphasises the bargaining process between parties with different goals
- discussions
broader and less formal; does not necessarily imply a goal of reaching agreement
- dialogue
emphasises open communication, often between opposing sides in a conflict
用法筆記
Almost always plural in this sense ('talks'). Used in formal contexts: diplomacy, business, labour relations. Distinguish from noun/1: 'talks' here are structured and official, not personal conversations.
4. what people are saying about events that may or may not be accurate; rumour and
what people are saying about events that may or may not be accurate; rumour and speculation
There is talk that the old cinema might be torn down by the end of summer.
there is talk that + clause
Eshe heard talk of a new head teacher arriving, but nothing had been confirmed.
talk of + something
The sudden departure of the finance director caused a lot of talk around the office.
At the village shop, Lakshmi dismissed the talk about the mayor as idle gossip with no real proof.
- gossip
more specifically about personal or private matters; often malicious
- rumour
a specific unverified story or claim spreading among people
- speculation
more formal; reasoned guessing when full facts are not available
用法筆記
Often used with no article ('there is talk'). Frequently carries a negative or dismissive tone — suggesting the talk is unfounded or idle.