Speech Definition & Meaning

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

"Speech" in song lyrics

See how speech is used in real songs:

  • "The First Amendment gave us freedom of speech"
    2 Live Crew — Banned in the U.S.A.
  • "Luke's speech:"
    2 Live Crew — Banned in the U.S.A.
  • "Fiend on a focus, I spoke this figure of speech"
    3rd Bass — Monte Hall

Usage tips for "speech"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "speech" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for speech to find words that pair well.

Use "speech" in a verse

Now that you know what "speech" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

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