English Reference
noun

speaker

n.
US /ˈspikɝ/ UK /spˈiːkɐ/ speak·er UK spelling speakers

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    a person who speaks a particular language or is talking at the moment.

    the producer of an utterance; a person who speaks a specific language as their native or learned tongue.

    Simple

    The teacher asked for a native speaker to help with the pronunciation.

    In context

    As a non-native speaker, she occasionally struggled with the subtle idiomatic nuances of the local dialect during business negotiations.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary Music

    a piece of equipment that plays music or sound so you can hear it.

    an electroacoustic transducer that converts electrical audio signals into corresponding sound waves.

    Simple

    He bought a new Bluetooth speaker to listen to music in the garden.

    In context

    The sound engineer adjusted the position of the speakers to ensure the acoustics were balanced throughout the auditorium.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    a person who gives a formal talk to a group of people.

    a person who delivers a formal address or speech to an audience.

    Simple

    The guest speaker talked about the importance of protecting the environment.

    In context

    The keynote speaker delivered a compelling presentation on the future of renewable energy, captivating the entire conference hall.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

    the person in charge of a meeting in a government parliament.

    the presiding officer of a legislative assembly, such as the House of Commons or the House of Representatives.

    Simple

    The Speaker of the House called for order during the heated debate.

    In context

    The Speaker maintained strict neutrality while moderating the parliamentary session, ensuring that all members adhered to the established rules of conduct.

    chairpersonpresiding officer
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Academic Literary

    the voice or character that 'speaks' in a poem.

    the persona or voice assumed by the writer of a poem or narrative.

    Simple

    In this poem, the speaker seems to be a young child.

    In context

    Students were asked to distinguish between the biographical author and the speaker of the lyric poem to better understand its emotional distance.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated