Gossip
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
gossip
n 1: light informal conversation for social occasions [syn:
{chitchat}, {chit-chat}, {chit chat}, {small talk}, {gab},
{gabfest}, {gossip}, {tittle-tattle}, {chin wag}, {chin-
wag}, {chin wagging}, {chin-wagging}, {causerie}]
2: a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other
people; "the divorce caused much gossip" [syn: {gossip},
{comment}, {scuttlebutt}]
3: a person given to gossiping and divulging personal
information about others [syn: {gossip}, {gossiper},
{gossipmonger}, {rumormonger}, {rumourmonger}, {newsmonger}]
v 1: wag one's tongue; speak about others and reveal secrets or
intimacies; "She won't dish the dirt" [syn: {dish the
dirt}, {gossip}]
2: talk socially without exchanging too much information; "the
men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze" [syn:
{chew the fat}, {shoot the breeze}, {chat}, {confabulate},
{confab}, {chitchat}, {chit-chat}, {chatter}, {chaffer},
{natter}, {gossip}, {jaw}, {claver}, {visit}]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Gossip \Gos"sip\, n. [OE. gossib, godsib, a relation or sponsor
in baptism, a relation by a religious obligation, AS.
godsibb, fr. god + sib alliance, relation; akin to G. sippe,
Goth. sibja, and also to Skr. sabh[=a] assembly.]
[1913 Webster]
1. A sponsor; a godfather or a godmother.
[1913 Webster]
Should a great lady that was invited to be a gossip,
in her place send her kitchen maid, 't would be ill
taken. --Selden.
[1913 Webster]
2. A friend or comrade; a companion; a familiar and customary
acquaintance. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. One who runs house to house, tattling and telling news; an
idle tattler.
[1913 Webster]
The common chat of gossips when they meet. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
4. The tattle of a gossip; groundless rumor.
[1913 Webster]
Bubbles o'er like a city with gossip, scandal, and
spite. --Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
197 Moby Thesaurus words for "gossip":
Paul Pry, Peeping Tom, a tale-bearing animal, account, ace, amigo,
associate, babble, babblement, back-fence gossip, banter,
bavardage, be closeted with, bedfellow, bedmate, bibble-babble,
blab, blabber, blabbermouth, blah-blah, blather, blatherskite,
blether, blethers, bosom buddy, bruit, buddy, bunkie, bunkmate,
busybody, butty, buzz, cackle, camarade, caquet, caqueterie,
chamberfellow, chat, chatter, chatterbox, chitchat,
chitter-chatter, chronicle, chum, clack, classmate, clatter,
colleague, comate, companion, company, compeer, comrade, confrere,
consociate, consort, conversation, copartner, coze, crony, cry,
dither, dope, eavesdropper, fellow, fellow student,
flibbertigibbet, gab, gabble, gam, gas, gibber, gibble-gabble,
girl friend, go on, gossip columnist, gossiper, gossiping,
gossipmonger, gossipmongering, gossipry, grapevine,
groundless rumor, guff, gup, gush, haver, hearsay, hint, hot air,
idle talk, imply, information, inquirer, inquisitive, inquisitor,
insinuate, intimate, jabber, jaw, make conversation, mate,
mere talk, messmate, natter, newsmonger, newsmongering,
newspaperman, nonsense talk, nosy Parker, old crony, on dit,
on-dit, pal, palaver, pard, pardner, partner, patter,
piece of gossip, playfellow, playmate, poop, pour forth, prate,
prating, prattle, prittle-prattle, pry, querier, querist,
questioner, quidnunc, ramble on, rattle, rattle on, reel off,
reporter, retail gossip, roommate, rubberneck, rubbernecker,
rumble, rumor, rumormonger, run on, scandal, scandalmonger,
schoolfellow, schoolmate, scopophiliac, scuttlebutt, shipmate,
side partner, sidekick, sieve, sightseer, small talk, snoop,
snooper, spout, spout off, story, suggest, tabby, tale, talebearer,
talebearing, taleteller, taletelling, talk, talk away,
talk nonsense, talk on, talkee-talkee, tattle, tattler, tattletale,
teammate, tell idle tales, telltale, tete-a-tete, tittle-tattle,
tittle-tattler, twaddle, twattle, visit, voyeur, waffle, whisper,
word, workfellow, yak, yakkety-yak, yenta, yokefellow, yokemate
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