speech
♦♦ speech /sp'iːtʃ/ (speeches)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Speech is the ability to speak or the act of speaking.
...the development of speech in children...
...a speech therapist specialising in stammering.
2 [N-SING] usu poss N
Your speech is the way in which you speak.
His speech became increasingly thick and nasal...
I'd make fun of her dress and imitate her speech.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Speech is spoken language.
...the way common letter clusters are usually pronounced in speech.
4 [N-COUNT]
A speech is a formal talk which someone gives to an audience.
She is due to make a speech on the economy next week...
He delivered his speech in French.
...a dramatic resignation speech.
5 [N-COUNT]
A speech is a group of lines spoken by a character in a play.
...the hilarious speech from Alan Bennett's `Forty Years On'.
6
see also direct speech, figure of speech, maiden speech, maiden speech, part of speech, reported speechdi|rect speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
In grammar, direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use direct discourse)fig|ure of speech (figures of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of speech is an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.
Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.in|di|rect speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
Indirect speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example, `They said you didn't like it', `I asked him what his plans were', and `Citizens complained about the smoke'. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use indirect discourse)maid|en speech (maiden speeches)
[N-COUNT]
A politician's maiden speech is the first speech that he or she makes in parliament after becoming a member of it. (BRIT)part of speech (parts of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A part of speech is a particular grammatical class of word, for example noun, adjective, or verb.re|port|ed speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
Reported speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example, `They said you didn't like it', `I asked him what his plans were', and `Citizens complained about the smoke'. (BRIT; in AM, use indirect discourse)
= indirect speechspeech day (speech days)
[N-VAR]
In some British schools, speech day is a day, usually at the end of the school year, when prizes are presented to pupils and speeches are made by guest speakers and the head teacher. (BRIT)speech thera|pist (speech therapists)
[N-COUNT]
A speech therapist is a person whose job is to help people to overcome speech and language problems.speech thera|py
[N-UNCOUNT]
Speech therapy is the treatment of people who have speech and language problems.
A stammering child can benefit from speech therapy.
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Speech is the ability to speak or the act of speaking.
...the development of speech in children...
...a speech therapist specialising in stammering.
2 [N-SING] usu poss N
Your speech is the way in which you speak.
His speech became increasingly thick and nasal...
I'd make fun of her dress and imitate her speech.
3 [N-UNCOUNT]
Speech is spoken language.
...the way common letter clusters are usually pronounced in speech.
4 [N-COUNT]
A speech is a formal talk which someone gives to an audience.
She is due to make a speech on the economy next week...
He delivered his speech in French.
...a dramatic resignation speech.
5 [N-COUNT]
A speech is a group of lines spoken by a character in a play.
...the hilarious speech from Alan Bennett's `Forty Years On'.
6
see also direct speech, figure of speech, maiden speech, maiden speech, part of speech, reported speechdi|rect speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
In grammar, direct speech is speech which is reported by using the exact words that the speaker used. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use direct discourse)fig|ure of speech (figures of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A figure of speech is an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.
Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.in|di|rect speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
Indirect speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example, `They said you didn't like it', `I asked him what his plans were', and `Citizens complained about the smoke'. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use indirect discourse)maid|en speech (maiden speeches)
[N-COUNT]
A politician's maiden speech is the first speech that he or she makes in parliament after becoming a member of it. (BRIT)part of speech (parts of speech)
[N-COUNT]
A part of speech is a particular grammatical class of word, for example noun, adjective, or verb.re|port|ed speech
[N-UNCOUNT]
Reported speech is speech which tells you what someone said, but does not use the person's actual words: for example, `They said you didn't like it', `I asked him what his plans were', and `Citizens complained about the smoke'. (BRIT; in AM, use indirect discourse)
= indirect speechspeech day (speech days)
[N-VAR]
In some British schools, speech day is a day, usually at the end of the school year, when prizes are presented to pupils and speeches are made by guest speakers and the head teacher. (BRIT)speech thera|pist (speech therapists)
[N-COUNT]
A speech therapist is a person whose job is to help people to overcome speech and language problems.speech thera|py
[N-UNCOUNT]
Speech therapy is the treatment of people who have speech and language problems.
A stammering child can benefit from speech therapy.