Speech
noun
A formal talk given to a group of people.
John gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.
Often appears as...
- give a speech
- deliver a speech
noun
The ability to speak or express thoughts through words.
After the accident, he struggled with his speech.
Often appears as...
- impairment of speech
- loss of speech
noun
A specific way of speaking, related to a particular region or social group.
His speech was indicative of his upbringing in the Southern United States.
Often appears as...
- patterns of speech
- speech variation
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A section of a play or a movie where a character is talking.
Shakespeare's 'To be or not to be' is one of the most famous speeches in theater.
Often appears as...
- deliver a speech
- dramatic speech
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A formal talk given to a group of people.
John gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.
Often appears as...
- give a speech
- deliver a speech
noun
The ability to speak or express thoughts through words.
After the accident, he struggled with his speech.
Often appears as...
- impairment of speech
- loss of speech
noun
A specific way of speaking, related to a particular region or social group.
His speech was indicative of his upbringing in the Southern United States.
Often appears as...
- patterns of speech
- speech variation
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A section of a play or a movie where a character is talking.
Shakespeare's 'To be or not to be' is one of the most famous speeches in theater.
Often appears as...
- deliver a speech
- dramatic speech
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Formality Required
Use 'speech' to refer to structured, formal public speaking situations, not casual ones.
The mayor's speech at the opening ceremony was inspiring.
Pro Tip 2/3Planned Content
Speeches are typically well-prepared and rehearsed, often involving key points or scripts.
She rehearsed her speech for days before the conference.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Engagement
Good speeches often engage the audience with questions, stories, or interactive elements.
His speech asked for audience participation, making it very engaging.
Pro Tip 1/3Formality Required
Use 'speech' to refer to structured, formal public speaking situations, not casual ones.
The mayor's speech at the opening ceremony was inspiring.
Pro Tip 2/3Planned Content
Speeches are typically well-prepared and rehearsed, often involving key points or scripts.
She rehearsed her speech for days before the conference.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Engagement
Good speeches often engage the audience with questions, stories, or interactive elements.
His speech asked for audience participation, making it very engaging.
Pro Tip 1/3Formality Required
Use 'speech' to refer to structured, formal public speaking situations, not casual ones.
The mayor's speech at the opening ceremony was inspiring.
Pro Tip 2/3Planned Content
Speeches are typically well-prepared and rehearsed, often involving key points or scripts.
She rehearsed her speech for days before the conference.
Pro Tip 3/3Audience Engagement
Good speeches often engage the audience with questions, stories, or interactive elements.
His speech asked for audience participation, making it very engaging.
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Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
That's where the brain attaches meaning to speech sounds. Damage to Wernicke's area impairs the brain's ability to comprehend language. Aphasia is caused by injury to one or both of these specialized language areas. Fortunately, there are other areas of the brain which support these language centers and can assist with communication.
Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
How to speak so that...
But is there a positive way to think about this? Yes, there is. I'd like to suggest that there are four really powerful cornerstones, foundations, that we can stand on if we want our speech to be powerful and to make change in the world. Fortunately, these things spell a word.
Video examples
Photographing the Civil...
don't put him on a stamp I mean no seriously you said something interesting we saw this picture yesterday and I was they have to carry their own guitars yeah so this is the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the morning of the march where king will make the speech we all know by
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
it was clear there would be no new election. Disturbingly, many of Hitler's early measures didn't require mass repression. His speeches exploited people's fear and ire to drive their support behind him and the Nazi party. Meanwhile, businessmen and intellectuals,
Video examples
How to use rhetoric to...
and citations of research or statistics. But it's not just facts and figures. It's also the structure and content of the speech itself. The point is to use factual knowledge to convince the audience, as in Sojourner Truth's argument for women's
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
delivering a passionate speech at Caesar's funeral days later that whipped the crowd into a frenzy of grief and anger. As a result, the liberators were forced out of Rome. The ensuing power vacuum led to a series of civil wars,
Video examples
How interpreters juggle...
Finally, interpreters work in pairs. While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time, the other gives support by locating documents, looking up words, and tracking down pertinent information.
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
impressed beyond bounds and beyond speech i mean what can be more impressive than the display of the argus pheasant i mean it is just astounding i've been trying to film the argus pheasant forever
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
cultivated man of the world who read widely and spoke many languages his letters and speeches although they were written on the battlefield and on the fly represents some of the greatest
Video examples
Aphasia: The disorder...
That's where the brain attaches meaning to speech sounds. Damage to Wernicke's area impairs the brain's ability to comprehend language. Aphasia is caused by injury to one or both of these specialized language areas. Fortunately, there are other areas of the brain which support these language centers and can assist with communication.
Video examples
The science of stage...
That fear of being seen as an awful idiot is a threat reaction from a primitive part of your brain that's very hard to control. It's the fight or flight response, a self-protective process seen in a range of animals, most of which don't give speeches. But we have a wise partner in the study of freaking out.
Video examples
How to speak so that...
But is there a positive way to think about this? Yes, there is. I'd like to suggest that there are four really powerful cornerstones, foundations, that we can stand on if we want our speech to be powerful and to make change in the world. Fortunately, these things spell a word.
Video examples
Photographing the Civil...
don't put him on a stamp I mean no seriously you said something interesting we saw this picture yesterday and I was they have to carry their own guitars yeah so this is the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the morning of the march where king will make the speech we all know by
Video examples
How did Hitler rise to...
it was clear there would be no new election. Disturbingly, many of Hitler's early measures didn't require mass repression. His speeches exploited people's fear and ire to drive their support behind him and the Nazi party. Meanwhile, businessmen and intellectuals,
Video examples
How to use rhetoric to...
and citations of research or statistics. But it's not just facts and figures. It's also the structure and content of the speech itself. The point is to use factual knowledge to convince the audience, as in Sojourner Truth's argument for women's
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
delivering a passionate speech at Caesar's funeral days later that whipped the crowd into a frenzy of grief and anger. As a result, the liberators were forced out of Rome. The ensuing power vacuum led to a series of civil wars,
Video examples
How interpreters juggle...
Finally, interpreters work in pairs. While one colleague is busy translating incoming speeches in real time, the other gives support by locating documents, looking up words, and tracking down pertinent information.
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
impressed beyond bounds and beyond speech i mean what can be more impressive than the display of the argus pheasant i mean it is just astounding i've been trying to film the argus pheasant forever
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
cultivated man of the world who read widely and spoke many languages his letters and speeches although they were written on the battlefield and on the fly represents some of the greatest
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Lewis Hamilton
British Driver
It is open for anyone to have freedom of speech, and I guess we can all play a role in trying to make a difference in the world. Particularly if your leader is not helping in that area.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
I think it is important to begin with a statement in your speech that grabs the attention of the audience. I try to make my opening line 15 words or less.
Quote examples
Benjamin Franklin
American Politician
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom - and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.
Quote examples
Richard Sherman
American Athlete
Giving a true speech, a true, passionate speech, is old-school football.
Quote examples
Plutarch
Greek Philosopher
Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
I've spent too much time giving speeches, traveling the world.
Quote examples
Colin Powell
American Statesman
I don't want to spend the rest of my life giving speeches.
Quote examples
Rudy Ruettiger
People always need to hear good motivational speeches.
Quote examples
Thomas Carlyle
Scottish Philosopher
Music is well said to be the speech of angels.
Quote examples
Lewis Hamilton
British Driver
It is open for anyone to have freedom of speech, and I guess we can all play a role in trying to make a difference in the world. Particularly if your leader is not helping in that area.
Quote examples
Charles R. Swindoll
American Clergyman
I think it is important to begin with a statement in your speech that grabs the attention of the audience. I try to make my opening line 15 words or less.
Quote examples
Benjamin Franklin
American Politician
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom - and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself.
Quote examples
Richard Sherman
American Athlete
Giving a true speech, a true, passionate speech, is old-school football.
Quote examples
Plutarch
Greek Philosopher
Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.
Quote examples
Billy Graham
American Clergyman
I've spent too much time giving speeches, traveling the world.
Quote examples
Colin Powell
American Statesman
I don't want to spend the rest of my life giving speeches.
Quote examples
Rudy Ruettiger
People always need to hear good motivational speeches.
Quote examples
Thomas Carlyle
Scottish Philosopher
Music is well said to be the speech of angels.
Example 1 of 10
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