talking

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔkɪŋ/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈtɑkɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːkɪŋ
• Hyphenation: talk‧ing

Etymology 1

From Middle English talkynge, equivalent to talk +‎ -ing.

Noun

talking (countable and uncountable, plural talkings)

1. The action of the verb talk.
   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant.

   • 1864–65, Anthony Trollope, Can You Forgive Her?

     He did not himself care for the loose little talkings, half flat and half sharp, of men when they meet together in idleness.

Derived terms

• do the talking
• talking blues
• talking circle

 

Etymology 2

From Middle English talkyng, talkynge, equivalent to talk +‎ -ing.

Verb

talking

1. present participle and gerund of talk

Derived terms

Derived terms

• look who's talking
• now you're talking
• shit talking
• talking book
• talking clock
• talking drum
• talking drummer
• talking head
• talking point
• talking shop
• talking statue
• talking-to
• that's what I'm talking about
• trash-talking