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Definition of chat verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chat

verb
 
/tʃæt/
 
/tʃæt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they chat
 
/tʃæt/
 
/tʃæt/
he / she / it chats
 
/tʃæts/
 
/tʃæts/
past simple chatted
 
/ˈtʃætɪd/
 
/ˈtʃætɪd/
past participle chatted
 
/ˈtʃætɪd/
 
/ˈtʃætɪd/
-ing form chatting
 
/ˈtʃætɪŋ/
 
/ˈtʃætɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [intransitive] to talk in a friendly, informal way to somebody
    • I'm sorry I can't stop to chat.
    • The two of us got chatting (= started chatting) at the bus stop.
    • chat to/with somebody My kids spend hours chatting on the phone to their friends.
    • chat away Within minutes of being introduced they were chatting away like old friends.
    • chat away to/with somebody Everyone here chats away to you as though they've known you for decades.
    • chat about something/somebody What were you chatting about?
    Extra Examples
    • George was in the kitchen chatting to some friends.
    • I spent a happy half-hour chatting with a friend.
    • They chatted away to each other.
    • We chatted briefly about the weather.
    • You will have a chance to circulate and chat informally.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • briefly
    • amiably
    • amicably
    preposition
    • about
    • to
    • with
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] to exchange messages with somebody on the internet, when you can see and reply to messages immediately and have a written conversation
    • chat (to/with somebody) I've been chatting online with my best friend.
    • chat about something/somebody I use social media to chat about stuff as well.
    Topics Phones, email and the interneta2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • briefly
    • amiably
    • amicably
    preposition
    • about
    • to
    • with
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: shortening of chatter.
See chat in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
elaborate
adjective
 
 
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