different between speaking vs description

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?spi??k??/

Etymology 1

From Middle English spekinge, spekynge, spekinde, spekende, spekande, spekand, from Old English specende, sprecende (“speaking”), from Proto-Germanic *sprekandz (“speaking”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *sprekan? (“to speak”). Equivalent to speak +? -ing. Cognate with Scots speikand, speikin (“speaking”), Saterland Frisian spreekend (“speaking”), West Frisian sprekkend (“speaking”), Dutch sprekend (“speaking”), German Low German sprekend (“speaking”),German sprechend (“speaking”).

Adjective

speaking (not comparable)

1. Used in speaking.

   one's normal speaking voice

2. Expressive; eloquent.

   The sight was more speaking than any speech could be.

3. Involving speaking.

   It was her first speaking part: she screamed.

4. Having the ability of speech.

   speaking parrot; speaking clock

   1. (in compounds) Having competence in a language.

      the English-speaking gentleman gave us directions; I travel in Russian-speaking countries; the French-speaking world listened in to the broadcast

Antonyms

• (expressive): unspeaking
• (involving speaking): nonspeaking

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English speking, spekinge, equivalent to speak +? -ing.

Noun

speaking (plural speakings)

1. One's ability to communicate vocally in a given language.

   I can read and understand most texts in German, but my speaking is awful.

2. The act of communicating vocally.
   • 2011, Jimmie W. Greene, Samuel D. Perry, Bridge Builder (page 50)

     Sometimes, a brawl would erupt, as a result, but, in general, public speakings were peaceful events and essential ingredients for election to office.

3. An oral recitation of e.g. a story.

Translations

Etymology 3

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

speaking

1. present participle of speak

Interjection

speaking

1. (telephony) Indication that the person requested is the same as the one who is currently speaking.

Translations

Further reading

Anagrams

• peakings

English

Etymology

From Old French description, from Latin d?scr?pti?, noun of action of d?scr?b? (“I describe”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??sk??p??n/

Noun

description (countable and uncountable, plural descriptions)

1. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.
2. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
3. A set of characteristics by which someone or something can be recognized.

   The zoo had no lions, tigers, or cats of any description.

4. (taxonomy) A scientific documentation of a taxon for the purpose of introducing it to science.

   The type description of the fungus was written by a botanist.

5. (linguistics) The act or practice of recording and describing actual language usage in a given speech community, as opposed to prescription, i.e. laying down norms of language usage.
6. (linguistics) A descriptive linguistic survey.

Synonyms

• (characteristics): sort, kind, type, variety

Derived terms

Related terms

• describe
• descriptive

Translations

See also

• prescription
• descriptivism

Further reading

• description in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• description in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

See also

• synopsis
• interpretation

Anagrams

• discerption, predictions

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin d?scripti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s.k?ip.sj??/
• Homophone: descriptions

Noun

description f (plural descriptions)

1. description

Related terms

• décrire
• descriptif

Further reading

• “description” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Old French

Etymology

From Latin d?scripti?.

Noun

description f (oblique plural descriptions, nominative singular description, nominative plural descriptions)

1. description

Related terms

• descrivre