Speech.
Synonyms:
| address, | dissertation, | oration, | speaking, |
| discourse, | harangue, | oratory, | talk, |
| disquisition, | language, | sermon, | utterance. |
Speech is the general word for utterance of thought in language. A speech may be the delivering of one's sentiments in the simplest way; an oration is an elaborate and prepared speech; a harangue is a vehement appeal to passion, or a speech that has something disputatious and combative in it. A discourse is a set speech on a definite subject, intended to convey instruction. Compare CONVERSATION; DICTION; LANGUAGE.
Antonyms:
hush, silence, speechlessness, stillness, taciturnity.