voluble
/'vɔljubl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; talkative: Describes a person who speaks easily, fluently, and often at length.
- Articulate and fluent in speech: Can imply not just quantity but also ease and smoothness of verbal expression.
Usage
- Used to describe a person's manner of speaking. It often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation, suggesting speech that is rapid, incessant, or difficult to interrupt.
- Typically modifies nouns like , , , , or , .
Examples
- The voluble tour guide kept up a steady stream of commentary throughout the entire bus ride.
- He became increasingly voluble after a few drinks, dominating the conversation.
- Her voluble defense of the proposal failed to convince the skeptical committee.
- While shy in writing, she is surprisingly voluble in person.
Advanced Usage
- Voluble can sometimes be used in a more positive sense to describe eloquent or persuasive fluency.
- The politician's voluble charm won over many undecided voters.
- It can be applied figuratively to things that suggest a continuous, flowing quality.
- The voluble stream chattered over the stones. (This is a poetic, less common usage.)
Variants and Related Words
- Volubility (noun): The quality of being voluble.
- The volubility of the salesperson was both impressive and exhausting.
- Volubly (adverb): In a voluble manner.
- She explained volubly why she was late.
Synonyms
- Talkative: Fond of or given to talking.
- Loquacious: Tending to talk a great deal.
- Garrulous: Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
- Chatty: Informal and talkative.
- Fluent: Able to express oneself easily and articulately.
Antonyms
- Taciturn: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech.
- Reticent: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
- Laconic: Using very few words.
- Terse: Sparing in the use of words.
Idioms and Phrases
- While there are no direct idioms with "voluble," the concept is related to phrases like:
- To have the gift of the gab: To be able to speak fluently and persuasively.
- To talk a blue streak: To talk rapidly and continuously.
Adjective
- marked by a ready flow of speech
- she is an extremely voluble young woman who engages in soliloquies not conversations