<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>communication of thought by words; talk; conversation: earnest and intelligent discourse.</li><li>Synonyms: parley, chat, dialogue, colloquy, discussion.</li><li>a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.</li><li>Linguistics: any unit of connected speech or writing longer than a sentence.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse.</li><li>to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to utter or give forth (musical sounds).</li></ul>