(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ at a meeting, conference, or other gathering is a person who is making a speech or giving a talk.
Among the ~s at the gathering was Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady...
He was not a good ~.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ of a particular language is a person who speaks it, especially one who speaks it as their first language.
...in the Ukraine, where a fifth of the population are Russian ~s...
The Department has a growing section which teaches English to ~s of other languages.
N-COUNT: n N, N of n
see also native ~
3.
In the parliament or legislature of many countries, the Speaker is the person who is in charge of meetings.
...the Speaker of the Polish Parliament...
Mr. Speaker, our message to the president is simple.
N-PROPER; N-VOC: Mr/Madam N
4.
A ~ is a person who is speaking.
From a simple gesture or the ~’s tone of voice, the Japanese listener gleans the whole meaning.
N-COUNT: usu the N
5.
A ~ is a piece of electrical equipment, for example part of a radio or set of equipment for playing CDs or tapes, through which sound comes out.
For a good stereo effect, the ~s should not be too wide apart.
= loud~
N-COUNT