speak
/spiːk/- say something in order to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling说话, 讲话：
in his agitation he was unable to speak
他焦虑不安, 说不出话来
she refused to speak about the incident.
她拒绝谈论那件事情。
- have a conversation谈话, 交谈：
I wish to speak privately with you
我希望能和你私下谈一谈
I'll speak to him if he rings up.
如果他打电话来, 我会和他谈的。
- with obj. utter (a word, message, speech, etc.)说（话、信息、言语等）：
patients copy words spoken by the therapist.
病人们重复治疗专家的话。
- with obj. communicate in or be able to communicate in (a specified language)（会）讲（某种语言）：
my mother spoke Russian.
我母亲讲俄语。
- make a speech before an audience or a contribution to a debate发言; （辩论中）发言：
twenty thousand people attended to hear him speak.
有两万人出席听他发言。
speak for
express the views or position of (another person or group)为（另一个人, 另一群人）说话：he claimed to speak for the majority of local people.
他声称要为当地的大多数人说话。
- convey one's views or position indirectly间接表达意见（或立场）：
speaking through his solicitor, he refused to join the debate.
他通过他的律师表示拒绝参加这次辩论。
- (speak to) answer (a question) or address (an issue or problem)回答（问题）; 处理（难题）：
we should be disappointed if the report did not speak to the issue of literacy.
如若这份报告没有提到扫盲问题, 我们将感到失望。
speak of
mention or discuss in speech or writing（发言或写作中）提到, 谈及：the books speak of betrayal.
这些书中谈到了背叛。
speak to
talk to in order to reprove or advise责备; 劝告：she tried to speak to Seb about his drinking.
她试图与塞伯谈谈他酗酒的事情。
- talk to in order to give or extract information通风报信; 窃取情报：
he had spoken to the police.
他向警察通风报信。
- appeal or relate to有吸引力; 有感染力; 与…相关：
the story spoke to him directly.
这个故事引起了他的共鸣。
- (of behaviour, an object, etc.) serve as evidence for something（行为、物件等）表明; 显示：
her harping on him spoke strongly of a crush
她总是提到他, 这有力地表明她非常喜欢他
with obj. his frame spoke tiredness.他的身体状况显示出他很疲惫。
- with obj. and infinitive or adverbial archaic show or manifest (someone or something) to be in a particular state or to possess a certain quality〈古〉证明; 显示：
she had seen nothing that spoke him of immoral habits.
她没看到有什么东西能证明他有放荡的习性。
- (of a musical instrument or other object) make a characteristic sound（乐器或其他物体）发出特有的响声：
the gun spoke again
枪又响了
insufficient air circulates for the pipes to speak.
管内空气不足流动时就能发出声音。
- (of a hound) bark（猎狗）吠。
not to speak of
- used in introducing a further factor to be considered更不要说：
the rent had to be paid, not to speak of school fees.
房租要交, 更不要说还要交学费。
nothing （或no -, none） to speak of
- used to indicate that there is some but very little of something表明只有非常少的一点不值一提：
I've no capital-well, none to speak of.
我没有资金, 真的, 少得不值一提。
something speaks for itself
- something's implications are so clear that it needs no supporting evidence or comments无需进一步说明, 不言而喻：
the figures speak for themselves.
这些数字就足够说明了。
speak for oneself
- give one's own opinions发表个人意见。
speak for yourself
- in imperative used to tell someone that what they have said may apply to them but does not apply to others仅对某人自己而言情况如此：
'This is such a boring place.' 'Speak for yourself-I like it.'
“这个地方太无聊了。”“这只是对你而言——我很喜欢这里。”
speak in tongues
- speak in an unknown language during religious worship（在宗教拜神仪式中）讲不为人知的语言。
speaking of
- used to introduce a statement or question about a topic recently alluded to［引入最近谈到过的一个话题］谈起; 提到：
speaking of cost, can I afford to buy it?
谈到费用问题, 我买得起它吗？
speak one's mind
- express one's feelings or opinions frankly说出心里话。
speak volumes
- (of a gesture, circumstance, or object) convey a great deal without using words（姿态, 环境, 物体）含义深刻, 意味深长：
a look that spoke volumes.
一个意味深长的眼神。
- be good evidence for有力地证明：
his record speaks volumes for his determination.
他的成绩充分证明他的决心。
speak well（或ill）of
- praise (or criticize)表扬（或批评）。
speakable
adjectivespeak out（或up）
- express one's feelings or opinions frankly and publicly坦诚地说; 公开地说出：
the government will be forthright in speaking out against human rights abuses.
政府将会明确声明反对践踏人权。
speak up for
- speak in defence or support of为…辩护; 支持：
there was no independent body to speak up for press freedoms.
没有任何独立团体支持新闻自由。