- 1[uncountable] (disapproving) informal talk or stories about other people's private lives, that may be unkind or not true Don't believe all the gossip you hear. Tell me all the latest gossip! The gossip was that he had lost a fortune on the stock exchange. It was common gossip (= everyone said so) that they were having an affair. She's a great one for idle gossip (= she enjoys spreading stories about other people that are probably not true).
- 2[countable, usually singular] a conversation about other people and their private lives I love a good gossip. Thesaurusdiscussion
- conversation
- dialogue
- talk
- debate
- consultation
- chat
- gossip
- discussion a detailed conversation about something that is considered to be important:Discussions are still taking place between the two countries.
- conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way:a telephone conversation
- dialogue conversations in a book, play, or movie:The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue.A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute:The leaders engaged in a constructive dialogue about climate change.
- talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or something important for the people involved:I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects.
- debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in Congress. In a debate, two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue:a debate over prison reform
- consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about something:The proposal was based on extensive consultations with leading scientists.
- chat a friendly, informal conversation; informal talking:Could I have a quick chat with you?
- gossip talk about other people and their private lives, that is often unkind or not true:Office gossip can be nasty and cruel.
- (a) discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about something
- a discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on something
- in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation >with>somebody
- to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat >with>somebody
- to hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation
- 3[countable] (disapproving) a person who enjoys talking about other people's private lives Thesaurusspeaker
- communicator
- gossip
- talker
- speaker a person who is or was speaking; a person who speaks a particular language:I looked around to see who the speaker was. a fluent speaker of Arabic
- communicator (somewhat formal) a person who is able to describe their ideas and feelings clearly to others:The ideal candidate will be an effective communicator.
- gossip (disapproving) a person who enjoys talking about other people's private lives:Myra is a sweet person, but she's also a terrible gossip.
- talker a person who talks a lot:He's not a talker. She's a big talker (= she talks a lot).
- Talker is used when you are talking about how much someone talks. It is not used for the person who is or was talking:I looked round to see who the talker was.
- a good/great speaker/communicator
- an effective/excellent speaker/communicator
NAmE//ˈɡɑsəpi//
adjective a gossipy letter/neighborSee gossip in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: gossip