to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk

He was too ill to speak.

to communicate vocally; mention

to speak to a person of various matters.

to converse

She spoke with him for an hour.

to deliver an address, discourse, etc.

to speak at a meeting.

to make a statement in written or printed words.

to communicate, signify, or disclose by any means; convey significance.

Phonetics . to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, esp. through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.

(of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.

to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.

Chiefly British . (of dogs) to bark when ordered.

Fox Hunting . (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.

to utter vocally and articulately

to speak words of praise.

to express or make known with the voice

to speak the truth.

to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.

to make known, indicate, or reveal.

to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language

to speak French.

(of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.

Nautical . to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal

We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.

Archaic . to speak to or with. ?

speak for,

to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.

to express or articulate the views of; represent.

to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself

This item is already spoken for.

speak out, to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly

He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.

so to speak

to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking

We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.

speak by the book

to say with great authority or precision

I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.

speak well for

to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to

Her manners speak well for her upbringing.

to speak of

worth mentioning

The country has no mineral resources to speak of.

verb

be quiet , listen , refrain , repress , suppress

verb

allege , articulate , assert , aver , blab * , break silence , chat , chew * , communicate , converse , convey , declare , deliver , descant , discourse , drawl , enunciate , expatiate , express , gab * , gas * , go * , jaw * , lip * , make known , make public , modulate , mouth , mumble , murmur , mutter , open one’s mouth , perorate , pop off * , pronounce , put into words , rap * , say , shout , sound , speak one’s piece , spiel * , spill , state , tell , utter , verbalize , vocalize , voice , whisper , yak * , yakkety-yak , yammernotes:say , speak , and tell are near synonyms , but say is usually followed by a statement or words actually uttered , argue , declaim , get across , harangue , hold forth , orate , pitch , plead , prelect , recite , sermonize , spout * , stump , talknotes:say , confabulate , talk , lecture , accost , address , announce , bespeak , blab , blabber , blurt , bluster , bruit , comment , consult , dilate , discuss , dogmatize , drone , elaborate , equivocate , expound , extemporize , filibuster , gabble , intonate , jabber , jibber , labialize , mention , natter , phonate , pontificate , prate , preach , proclaim , publish , rant , remark , reveal , schmooze , splutter , stutter , testify , ventilate , yammer

phrasal verb

stand for