(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~, you use spoken language to express your thoughts, ideas, or feelings.
He was too distressed to ~...
The boys all began to ~ at once...
VERB: V, V
•
Talk is also a noun.
That’s not the kind of ~ one usually hears from accountants.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If you ~ to someone, you have a conversation with them. You can also say that two people ~.
We ~ed and laughed a great deal...
I ~ed to him yesterday...
When she came back, they were ~ing about American food...
Can’t you see I’m ~ing? Don’t interrupt.
V-RECIP: pl-n V, V to/with n, pl-n V about n, V (non-recip), also V to n about n
•
Talk is also a noun.
We had a long ~ about her father, Tony, who was a friend of mine.
= conversation
N-COUNT
3.
If you ~ to someone, you tell them about the things that are worrying you. You can also say that two people ~.
Your first step should be to ~ to a teacher or school counselor...
We need to ~ alone...
Do ring if you want to ~ about it...
I have to sort some things out. We really needed to ~.
V-RECIP: V to n, pl-n V, V about n (non-recip), V (non-recip)
•
Talk is also a noun.
I think it’s time we had a ~.
N-COUNT
4.
If you ~ on or about something, you make an informal speech telling people what you know or think about it.
She will ~ on the issues she cares passionately about including education and nursery care...
He intends to ~ to young people about the dangers of AIDS.
= speak
VERB: V on/about n, V to n
•
Talk is also a noun.
A guide gives a brief ~ on the history of the site...
N-COUNT: oft N on/about n
5.
Talks are formal discussions intended to produce an agreement, usually between different countries or between employers and employees.
Talks between striking railway workers and the Polish government have broken down...
N-PLURAL: oft N with/between n, N on/about n
6.
If one group of people ~s to another, or if two groups ~, they have formal discussions in order to do a deal or produce an agreement.
We’re ~ing to some people about opening an office in London...
The company ~ed with many potential investors...
It triggered broad speculation that GM and Jaguar might be ~ing.
V-RECIP: V to n about n/-ing, V with/to n, pl-n V
7.
When different countries or different sides in a dispute ~, or ~ to each other, they discuss their differences in order to try and settle the dispute.
The Foreign Minister said he was ready to ~ to any country that had no hostile intentions...
They are collecting information in preparation for the day when the two sides sit down and ~...
John Reid has to find a way to make both sides ~ to each other...
The speed with which the two sides came to the negotiating table shows that they are ready to ~.
V-RECIP: V to n, pl-n V, V to/with pron-recip, V (non-recip)
8.
If people are ~ing about another person or are ~ing, they are discussing that person.
Everyone is ~ing about him...
People will ~, but you have to get on with your life.
VERB: V about/of n, V
•
Talk is also a noun.
There has been a lot of ~ about me getting married...
N-UNCOUNT: usu N about/of n/-ing, N that
9.
If someone ~s when they are being held by police or soldiers, they reveal important or secret information, usually unwillingly.
They’ll ~, they’ll implicate me.
VERB: V
10.
If you ~ a particular language or ~ with a particular accent, you use that language or have that accent when you speak.
You don’t sound like a foreigner ~ing English...
They were amazed that I was ~ing in an Irish accent.
VERB: no passive, V n, V prep/adv
11.
If you ~ something such as politics or sport, you discuss it.
The guests were mostly middle-aged men ~ing business.
VERB: no passive, V n
12.
You can use ~ to say what you think of the ideas that someone is expressing. For example, if you say that someone is ~ing sense, you mean that you think the opinions they are expressing are sensible.
You must admit George, you’re ~ing absolute rubbish.
VERB: V n
13.
You can say that you are ~ing a particular thing to draw attention to your topic or to point out a characteristic of what you are discussing. (SPOKEN)
We’re ~ing megabucks this time.
VERB: no passive, V n
14.
If you say that something such as an idea or threat is just ~, or all ~, you mean that it does not mean or matter much, because people are exaggerating about it or do not really intend to do anything about it.
Has much of this actually been tried here? Or is it just ~?...
N-UNCOUNT
15.
You can say ~ about before mentioning a particular expression or situation, when you mean that something is a very striking or clear example of that expression or situation. (INFORMAL)
Took us quite a while to get here, didn’t it? Talk about Fate moving in a mysterious way!...
PHRASE: PHR n/-ing emphasis
16.
You can use the expression ~ing of to introduce a new topic that you want to discuss, and to link it to something that has already been mentioned.
Belvoir Farms produce a delicious elderflower tea. Talking of elderflower, you might wish to try Elderflower Champagne.
PHRASE: PHR n/-ing
17.
to ~ shop: see shop