talk
talk — verb
1. to produce words with your voice in order to share thoughts, feelings, or inform
to produce words with your voice in order to share thoughts, feelings, or information with someone; to be able to use a particular language for speaking.
Ada talked to the shop assistant about getting a refund for the broken kettle.
talk + to + person + about + topic
The baby cannot talk yet, but she makes lots of sounds and gestures.
Joshua can talk French and German because his family moved around when he was young.
Baraka talked very quietly during the exam so that the librarian would not hear him.
It is rude to talk with food still in your mouth at the dinner table.
- listen
the receiving side of communication
- remain silent
to not speak at all
文法句型
talk + to/with + person
talk + about + topic
talk + language
用法筆記
When used transitively, the object is always a language (e.g., talk Spanish, talk Mandarin). For other objects, use talk about or talk to.
常見錯誤
2. to have a serious conversation with someone in order to solve a problem, settle
to have a serious conversation with someone in order to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or make a decision together.
The managers agreed to talk about the budget cuts before making any final decisions.
talk + about + serious issue
Minho and his roommate sat down to talk over their disagreement about noise after midnight.
talk + over + disagreement
Niran refused to talk until his lawyer arrived at the police station.
The union leaders need to talk and find a solution before the strike starts.
文法句型
talk + about + issue/problem
talk + over + disagreement
用法筆記
Often implies a pre-existing conflict or important issue that needs resolution. The preposition over often signals the source of disagreement.
常見錯誤
3. to exchange thoughts or opinions about a particular subject in a general convers
to exchange thoughts or opinions about a particular subject in a general conversation, without necessarily trying to solve a problem.
The students talked about their summer plans while waiting for the bus.
talk + about + general topic
Gita and Asher talked about the book for hours after their club meeting.
What did you two talk about at the party last night?
The documentary made everyone talk about climate change on the way home.
Liam loves to talk about photography and camera equipment whenever he meets new people.
- discuss
slightly more formal; often suggests a planned or more thorough exchange
- chat about
more informal; suggests a relaxed, friendly conversation
- mention
to briefly refer to a topic, not engage in extended discussion
文法句型
talk + about + topic/subject
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb/2 (DISCUSS SERIOUSLY): this sense describes general conversation without the expectation of resolving a conflict. The topic can be trivial or serious, but the tone is conversational rather than confrontational.
4. to speak to an audience about a subject in a prepared or structured way, usually
to speak to an audience about a subject in a prepared or structured way, usually to inform or teach.
Professor Ingrid talked about ancient Roman architecture to a hall full of students.
talk + about + subject + to + audience
Faisal was nervous when he talked to the conference about his research on solar energy.
The author is coming to talk on modern poetry at the library next Thursday evening.
Andrés talked for nearly an hour at the workshop without stopping for questions.
文法句型
talk + about/on + subject
talk + to + audience
用法筆記
Frequently followed by on for formal academic topics (talk on climate change) and about for more general presentation topics.
常見錯誤
5. to give away secret or private information, especially when pressured, threatene
to give away secret or private information, especially when pressured, threatened, or forced to do so.
The captured spy refused to talk, even when the guards questioned him all night.
refuse to talk (give information under pressure)
The police kept the suspect until he finally talked about where he hid the money.
Nobody could make the prisoner talk because he had been trained to resist interrogation.
Once the hacker started talking, the whole network security system was rebuilt.
- keep quiet
to deliberately not reveal information
- stay silent
to refuse to speak
文法句型
make + person + talk
refuse to talk
用法筆記
Common in crime, espionage, and interrogation contexts. Often used in the phrase make someone talk or refuse to talk.
6. to discuss the private lives, behaviour, or personal affairs of other people whe
to discuss the private lives, behaviour, or personal affairs of other people when they are not present.
The neighbours talked about the new family on the street and spread rumours.
talk + about + person (gossiping)
Defne told her friends they should not talk behind other people's backs at work.
talk behind someone's back
People love to talk when a celebrity gets divorced or makes a public mistake.
The office has been talking about the manager's sudden resignation all week.
- keep to oneself
to mind one's own business
文法句型
talk + about + person
用法筆記
Carries a negative connotation of spreading personal information about others. The phrase talk behind someone's back is a common fixed expression for this sense.
talk — noun
1. a spoken exchange between two or more people, usually focused on a shared topic
a spoken exchange between two or more people, usually focused on a shared topic or set of topics.
Gita had a long talk with her mother about choosing a university course.
have a talk + with + person + about + topic
Joshua and his father sat down for a quiet talk after dinner.
The coach gave the team a short talk before the final match of the season.
The two friends had an interesting talk about Japanese films and animation.
Baraka felt much better after a friendly talk with Ada over coffee.
- conversation
the closest synonym; conversation sounds slightly more natural as a general term for spoken exchange
- chat
informal; a friendly, unimportant conversation
- discussion
more formal; implies a more thorough exchange of views
文法句型
have a talk + with + person
a talk + about + topic
用法筆記
Often used with have (have a talk) which makes it a countable noun in this sense. A talk can range from a brief chat to a lengthy discussion.
常見錯誤
2. an informative speech delivered before an audience, typically planned in advance
an informative speech delivered before an audience, typically planned in advance and intended to teach or explain a subject.
Professor Ingrid gave a fascinating talk on the history of Korean pottery at the museum.
give a talk + on + subject
The library hosts a free public talk every month about local wildlife and nature.
Faisal's talk about renewable energy was so well received that he was invited back.
Andrés prepared slides and handouts for his talk on digital photography techniques.
A short talk follows the guided tour for visitors who want to learn more.
- lecture
longer and more formal than a talk; typically academic or professional
- presentation
often involves visual aids; can be professional or academic
- speech
a formal address; usually more rhetorical than a talk
文法句型
a talk + on/about + subject
give a talk
用法筆記
A talk in this sense is shorter and less formal than a lecture but more structured than a casual conversation. Use on for academic or specialist topics, about for general subjects.
常見錯誤
3. official meetings or negotiations between groups, organizations, or countries, a
official meetings or negotiations between groups, organizations, or countries, aimed at reaching an agreement or solving a serious problem.
Peace talks between the two countries resumed after a break of three months.
peace talks between parties
The management and the union held talks about working conditions and wages.
Trade talks broke down when neither side was willing to compromise on tariffs.
Leaders from six countries attended the climate talks in Vienna last October.
The talks are expected to last several days and cover a wide range of issues.
- negotiations
the most formal synonym; focuses on bargaining toward a specific outcome
- summit
a meeting between top leaders; implies high-level diplomacy
- discussions
slightly less formal than talks; can also describe informal exchanges
文法句型
talks + between + parties
talks + with + group
peace talks
trade talks
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the plural — talks — even when referring to a single meeting or negotiation session. Common compounds include peace talks, trade talks, pay talks, and climate talks.
常見錯誤
4. what people are saying about something that may or may not be true; the subject
what people are saying about something that may or may not be true; the subject that many people are discussing at a particular time.
There has been talk about layoffs since the company lost its biggest customer.
talk about [speculative subject]
All this talk of moving to another country is just a rumour that started online.
The opening of the new library became the talk of the whole neighbourhood.
Talk of a merger has gone around the office for weeks without official news.
Her promotion was the main talk among the staff during the lunch break.
文法句型
talk + of/about + something
be talk of the town/office
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say a talk about rumours. The phrase the talk of the town/office/school describes a topic that has captured everyone's attention.