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   gossip

   /ˈɡɒsɪp/

   noun

   • 1. casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true: "he became the subject of much local gossip" Similar chattalkconversationchatterheart-to-hearttête-à-têtebletherblatherconferencediscussiondialogueexchangeaddainformal:chit-chatjawgasconfabgossnatterchinwagrabbitcrackrapbull sessiongabfestmagyarnrare:confabulationcolloquy
   • ▪ a conversation about other people; an instance of gossiping: "she just comes round here for a gossip" Similar tittle-tattletattlerumour (s)whispersstoriestalescanardstitbitsidle talkscandalhearsaymalicious gossipwhispering campaignsmear campaignbavardageon ditKaffeeklatschlabrishshu-shuinformal:dirtbuzzmud-slinginggossscuttlebuttteaskinderrare:bruitOpposite factsthe truth
   • ▪ a person who likes talking about other people's private lives. Similar scandalmongergossipmongertattlertittle-tattlerbusybodymuckrakerinformal:bad-mouthbad-moutherrare:quidnunccalumniator

   verb

   • 1. engage in gossip: "they would start gossiping about her as soon as she left" Similar spread rumoursspread gossipcirculate rumoursspread storiestittle-tattletattletalkwhispertell talesmuckrakeinformal:dish the dirtspill the teaskinderliterary:bruit something abroad/aboutchattalkconversespeak to each otherdiscuss thingshave a talkhave a chathave a tête-à-têtehave a conversationengage in conversationinformal:gashave a confabchew the fat/ragjawrapyakyapnatterhave a chinwagchinwagshoot the breezevisitmagformal:confabulate

   Word Origin late Old Englishgodsibb, ‘godfather, godmother, baptismal sponsor’, literally ‘a person related to one in God’, from god ‘God’ + sibb ‘a relative’ (see sib). In Middle English the sense was ‘a close friend, a person with whom one gossips’, hence ‘a person who gossips’, later (early 19th century) ‘idle talk’ (from the verb, which dates from the early 17th century).

   Derivatives

   • 1. gossiper noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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