I. gos ‧ sip 1 /ˈɡɒsəp, ˈɡɒsɪp $ ˈɡɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: godsibb 'godparent, close friend' , from god 'god' + sibb 'relative' ]
1 . [uncountable] information that is passed from one person to another about other people’s behaviour and private lives, often including unkind or untrue remarks
gossip about
Here’s an interesting piece of gossip about Mrs Smith.
What’s the latest gossip?
Do you want to hear some juicy gossip?
She had no time for idle gossip.
It was common gossip how he felt about her.
You miss a lot of office gossip when you have a day off work.
On Sundays all the men gather in the square to exchange local gossip.
2 . [countable usually singular] a conversation in which you exchange information with someone about other people’s lives and things that have happened:
Phil’s in there, having a gossip with Maggie.
3 . [countable] someone who likes talking about other people’s private lives – used to show disapproval:
Rick’s a terrible gossip.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + gossip
▪ the latest gossip
Annie usually has all the latest gossip.
▪ juicy gossip (=interesting gossip)
He said that he had some especially juicy gossip to tell us.
▪ hot gossip (=interesting gossip)
What’s the latest hot gossip going round at work then?
▪ idle gossip (=gossip not based on facts)
She had no time for idle gossip.
▪ common gossip (=gossip that everyone knows about)
Rumours about her affairs had become common gossip.
▪ office gossip
He told her a few bits of office gossip which he though might interest her.
▪ village gossip BrE:
She knew from village gossip how Harry had treated his first wife.
▪ malicious gossip (=unkind gossip that is likely to upset someone)
Has someone been spreading malicious gossip?
■ phrases
▪ a piece of gossip
I’ve got an interesting piece of gossip which might interest you.
▪ be the subject of gossip (=be talked about)
His close friendship with Carol was the subject of gossip.
■ verbs
▪ exchange gossip (=talk about other people and their private lives with someone)
They used to meet up and exchange gossip.
▪ hear gossip
Have you heard the latest gossip about Steve?
▪ listen to gossip
He was always willing to listen to gossip.
▪ spread gossip
Someone’s been spreading gossip about Lucy and Ian.
▪ gossip goes around (=it is told by one person to another)
It was a small village, and any gossip went around very quickly.
II. gossip 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
to talk about other people’s behaviour and private lives, often including remarks that are unkind or untrue
gossip about
The whole town was gossiping about them.
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THESAURUS
■ to talk about everyday things
▪ have a conversation to talk to someone for a long time about everyday things:
She was having a conversation with one of her friends.
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When I arrived, Joe and Jane were deep in conversation (=very involved in a conversation) .
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I can order food in a restaurant in French, but not have a conversation.
▪ chat/have a chat informal to have a friendly informal conversation about things that are not very important:
The girls were chatting outside the house.
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It’s been nice having a chat with you.
▪ gossip to talk about other people’s private lives when they are not there, especially about things that you have heard, which are not completely true:
What are you two gossiping about?
▪ visit with somebody American English informal to have a conversation with someone:
I visited with him last week.
▪ converse formal to have a conversation with someone:
We met once and conversed briefly.