speech 
/ˈspi:tʃ/ noun
plural speech·es /ˈspi:tʃ/ noun 1 [count] : a spoken expression of ideas, opinions, etc., that is made by someone who is speaking in front of a group of people
▪ She has to make/give/deliver a speech at the convention. ▪ a graduation speech about/on embracing future challenges ▪ He kept revising his speech [=the words that he had written for his speech] right up until the last minute. ▪ She thanked us in her acceptance speech. [=a speech given by someone receiving an award or prize] — see also stump speech 2 [noncount] : the ability to speak
▪ I was so flustered that I momentarily lost the power of speech. ▪ She has a mild speech impediment. [=a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally] ▪ They fought for freedom of speech. = They fought for the right to/of free speech. [=they fought for the legal right to express their opinions freely] 3 [noncount] : spoken language
▪ Slang is used mostly in informal/casual speech. ▪ Many words are more common in speech than in writing. 4 [noncount] : the manner or style of speaking that is used by a particular person or group
▪ His speech was slurred. ▪ local/regional speech patterns 5 [count] : a group of lines spoken by a character in a play
▪ I get to perform one of the best speeches in the play.
▪ She has to make/give/deliver a speech at the convention. ▪ a graduation speech about/on embracing future challenges ▪ He kept revising his speech [=the words that he had written for his speech] right up until the last minute. ▪ She thanked us in her acceptance speech. [=a speech given by someone receiving an award or prize] — see also stump speech
▪ I was so flustered that I momentarily lost the power of speech. ▪ She has a mild speech impediment. [=a condition that makes it difficult to speak normally] ▪ They fought for freedom of speech. = They fought for the right to/of free speech. [=they fought for the legal right to express their opinions freely]
▪ Slang is used mostly in informal/casual speech. ▪ Many words are more common in speech than in writing.
▪ His speech was slurred. ▪ local/regional speech patterns
▪ I get to perform one of the best speeches in the play.
— see also figure of speech, part of speech
