speech speech /ˈspiːtʃ/

noun

1. () The act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience  ( address , speech )
   the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
    He listened to an address on minor Roman poets
   he listened to an address on minor Roman poets
   
2. () (language) communication by word of mouth  ( oral communication , speech communication , spoken communication , language , speech , spoken language , voice communication )
   (language) communication by word of mouth
    His speech was garbled
   his speech was garbled
    He uttered harsh language
   he uttered harsh language
    He recorded the spoken language of the streets
   he recorded the spoken language of the streets
   
3. () Something spoken  ( speech )
   something spoken
    He could hear them uttering merry speeches
   he could hear them uttering merry speeches
   
4. () A lengthy rebuke  ( lecture , talking to , speech )
   a lengthy rebuke
    A good lecture was my father's idea of discipline
   a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline
    The teacher gave him a talking to
   the teacher gave him a talking to
   
5. () Your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally  ( delivery , manner of speaking , speech )
   your characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally
    His manner of speaking was quite abrupt
   his manner of speaking was quite abrupt
    Her speech was barren of southernisms
   her speech was barren of southernisms
    I detected a slight accent in his speech
   I detected a slight accent in his speech
   
6. () The exchange of spoken words  ( speech )
   the exchange of spoken words
    They were perfectly comfortable together without speech
   they were perfectly comfortable together without speech
   
7. The mental faculty or power of vocal communication  ( speech , language )
   the mental faculty or power of vocal communication
    Language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals
   language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals
   
8. Words making up the dialogue of a play  ( actor's line , speech , words )
   words making up the dialogue of a play
    The actor forgot his speech
   the actor forgot his speech