/ ˈgɒsɪp; NAmE ˈgɑːsɪp/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] ( disapproving ) informal talk or stories about other people's private lives, that may be unkind or not true :
Don't believe all the gossip you hear.
Tell me all the latest gossip !
The gossip was that he had lost a fortune on the stock exchange.
It was common gossip (= everyone said so) that they were having an affair.
She's a great one for idle gossip (= she enjoys spreading stories about other people that are probably not true) .
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] a conversation about other people and their private lives :
I love a good gossip.
➡ note at discussion
3.
[ C ] ( disapproving ) a person who enjoys talking about other people's private lives
► gos·sipy / ˈgɒsɪpi; NAmE ˈgɑːs-/ adjective :
a gossipy letter / neighbour
■ verb
[ v ] to talk about other people's private lives, often in an unkind way :
I can't stand here gossiping all day.
She's been gossiping about you.
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English godsibb , godfather, godmother, baptismal sponsor , literally a person related to one in God , from god God + sibb a relative (see sib ). In Middle English the sense was a close friend, a person with whom one gossips , hence a person who gossips , later (early 19th cent.) idle talk (from the verb, which dates from the early 17th cent.).