English Explanatory Dictionary

gossip

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Someone who likes to talk about other people's private or personal business.
  2. Idle talk about someone’s private or personal matters, especially about someone not present.
  3. Idle conversation in general.
  4. A genre in contemporary media, usually focused on the personal affairs of celebrities.
  5. Communication done using a gossip protocol.
  6. A sponsor; a godfather or godmother; the godparent of one's child or godchild, or the parent of one's godchild.
  7. A familiar acquaintance.
  8. Title used with the name of one's child's godparent or of a friend.
verb
  1. To talk about someone else's private or personal business, especially in a manner that spreads the information.
  2. To talk idly.
  3. To stand godfather to; to provide godparents for.
  4. To enjoy oneself during festivities, to make merry.
  5. To communicate using a gossip protocol.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡɒsɪp/ /ˈɡɑsəp/ En-us-gossip.ogg

Word forms

gossip gossips gossiping gossipping gossiped gossipped

Etymology

From Middle English godsybbe, godsib (“a close friend or relation, a confidant; a godparent”), from Old English godsibb (“godparent, sponsor”), equivalent to god + sib. Doublet of godsib. For sense evolution to "gossip, discussing others' personal affairs," compare French commérage.

Synonyms

busybody gossipmonger meddler rumormonger carrytale blab blabbermouth blabtale blabtongue buzzer gossip gossiper mouth mumblenews newsmonger rumourmonger scandalmonger sleazemonger tabby talebearer talecarrier tattletale telltale telltale tit titivil tittle-tattle town crier whisperer dirt hearsay rumor scandal scuttlebutt bruit buzz tidbit fame moot on dit sough muttering noise tale word word on the street word on the wire whisper whispering chat chinwag chit-chat natter babble bavardage bibble-babble blabber blabbing blather blathering chatter

Related words

word has it prattle rat out gossiper

Derived words

cybergossip gossipee gossiper gossipfest gossipful gossiphood gossipish gossipless gossiplike gossiply gossip mill gossip mirror gossip-prone gossipred gossipy

Translations

Afrikaans: skinderbek Afrikaans: skinderaar Albanian: thashethemexhi Albanian: çuçurjar Arabic: نَمَّام Arabic: نَمَّامة Arabic: هدار Arabic: هدارة Arabic: نمام Arabic: نمامة Azerbaijani: qeybətçi Azerbaijani: xəbərçi Bashkir: ғәйбәтсе Bashkir: ғәйбәт тоҡсайы Belarusian: плятка́р Belarusian: плятка́рка Bulgarian: клюка́р Bulgarian: клюка́рка Catalan: tafaner Catalan: tafanera Catalan: xafarder Catalan: xafardera Catalan: bugader Catalan: bugadera Chinese Cantonese: 八公 Chinese Cantonese: 八婆 Chinese Mandarin: 愛說閒話的人 /爱说闲话的人 Chinese Mandarin: 八卦的人 Czech: drbna Czech: klepna Czech: klevetník Czech: klevetnice Danish: sladrehank Dutch: roddelaar Dutch: roddelaarster Esperanto: klaĉulo Esperanto: klaĉisto Esperanto: klaĉanto Finnish: juoruilija Finnish: juorukello French: commère Galician: rexoubeiro Galician: murmurador German: Tratsche German: Tratschtante German: Klatschtante German: Tratschweib German: Klatschweib Greek: κουτσομπόλης Greek: κουτσομπόλα Hebrew: רכלן Hungarian: pletykás Hungarian: pletykafészek Italian: pettegolo Italian: pettegola Italian: chiacchierone Italian: chiacchierona Italian: comare Italian: linguacciuto Italian: ciarlatano Ladino: mesherikero Ladino: mesherikera Lao: ຄົນນິນທາ Lao: ຄົນມັກນິນທາ Latin: lingulāca Macedonian: озбо́рувач Macedonian: озбору́вачка Macedonian: тра́чар Macedonian: тра́чарка Norman: conméthe Norwegian Bokmål: ryktemaker Norwegian Bokmål: ryktesmed Norwegian Bokmål: skvaldrebøtte Persian: سخنچین Polish: plotkarz Polish: plotkarka Portuguese: bisbilhoteiro Portuguese: coscuvilheiro Portuguese: mexeriqueiro Portuguese: fofoqueiro Portuguese: fuxiqueiro Portuguese: futriquento Portuguese: futriqueiro Romanian: palavragiu Romanian: palavragioaică Russian: спле́тник Russian: спле́тница Russian: болту́н Russian: болту́нья Scots: auld wife Scottish Gaelic: beadag Scottish Gaelic: cabag Scottish Gaelic: cabaire Scottish Gaelic: cabairneach Scottish Gaelic: clabaire Scottish Gaelic: fodhal Scottish Gaelic: goistidh Scottish Gaelic: gobag Scottish Gaelic: preigeadair Sicilian: cuttigghiaru Sicilian: cuttigghiara Slovak: klebetník Slovak: klebetníca Spanish: chismoso Spanish: chismosa Spanish: copuchento Spanish: argüendero Spanish: argüendera Spanish: alcahuete Spanish: cotilla Spanish: correveidile Spanish: gacetilla Spanish: llevaitrae Swahili: mdakizi Swahili: mdaku Swedish: skvallerbytta Swedish: skvallerkäring Swedish: sladderkärring Swedish: sladdertacka Swedish: skvallerkvarn Swedish: skvallermoster Swedish: skvallerranta Swedish: skvallertaska Swedish: skvallertant Swedish: tjallare
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