speaking
[noun]
Synonyms: speech, discourse, talk, utterance, verbalization

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

speaking ppl adjective. ['spi:kɪŋ] ME.
[formed as SPEAKING noun + -ING².]
I.
1. a. That speaks; capable of articulate speech. Also as 2nd elem. of comb. ME.
evil-speaking, public-speaking, true-speaking, etc.
b. (Capable of) speaking a specified language. M19.
Guardian The Urdu-speaking immigrants.

2. Significant; eloquent; (esp. of the eyes or face) highly expressive. L16.
■ E. Bowen Speaking looks were cast by the..children at the place where Hermione did not sit.

3. (Of a likeness) striking, true; (of a portrait) lifelike. L16.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

speaking(1)
II.

4. With regard to a limitation or sense specified; from a particular point of view. L17.
broadly speaking, generally speaking, professionally speaking, strictly speaking, etc.
Special collocations: speaking clock a telephone service giving the correct time in words. speaking stop an organ-stop key which controls the sounding of a rank of pipes.

■ speakingly adverb in an eloquent or expressive manner; strikingly: LME.

■ speakingness noun (rare) the quality of being eloquent or expressive M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

speaking verbal noun. ['spi:kɪŋ] ME.
[from SPEAK verb + -ING¹.]
1. a. The action of SPEAK verb; speech, talk; conversation, discourse. ME.
b. The delivery of speeches; speech-making. M18.

2. a. An instance or occasion of speech or talk; a discourse, a discussion. Now chiefly US. ME.
b. In pl. Things spoken; sayings, statements, words. ME-M17.

3. The faculty or power of speech. LME-E16.
Phrases: at that present speaking US at that moment. at the present speaking, at this present speaking US at this moment. in a manner of speaking: see MANNER noun¹. on speaking terms (a) slightly acquainted; (b) on friendly terms.

Attrib. & comb.:
In the sense 'used for producing or conveying articulate sounds', as speaking-machine, speaking-pipe, etc.; in the sense 'pertaining to speech', as speaking skills, speaking voice, etc. Special combs., as speaking acquaintance (a) a person one knows slightly; (b) this degree of familiarity; speaking front Music an organ-front composed of pipes which actually sound, as opp. to dummy pipes; speaking-trumpet Hist. an instrument used (formerly esp. at sea) to make the voice carry; speaking-tube a tube or pipe for communicating by voice from one room, building, etc., to another.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲