talking

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔkɪŋ/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) 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 4293071:

     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.

Etymology 2

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

Verb

talking

1. present participle 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 out of turn
• talking over someone's head
• talking point

• talking shop
• talking statue
• talking-to
• that's what I'm talking about
• trash-talking

Related terms

Related terms

• fast-talking
• now you're talking
• sweet-talking
• talking a blue streak
• talking about
• talking a mile a minute
• talking around

• talking back
• talking down
• talking in circles
• talking out
• talking over
• talking past

• talking shop
• talking smack
• talking through one's hat
• talking trash
• talking turkey
• talking up