speech
noun
spiːtʃ 
spiːtʃ 
1 [countable] speech (on/about something) a formal talk that a person gives to an audienceto give/make/deliver a speech on human rightsHe made the announcement in a speech on television.Several people made speeches at the wedding.2 [uncountable] the ability to speakI seemed to have lost the power of speech.a speech defectfreedom of speech (= the right to say openly what you think)3 [uncountable] the way in which a particular person speaksHer speech was slurred—she was clearly drunk.4 [uncountable] the language used when speakingThis expression is used mainly in speech, not in writing.speech sounds5 [countable] a group of lines that an actor speaks in a play in the theatreShe has the longest speech in the play. see also figure of speech
Usage note: speechlecture address talk sermonThese are all words for a talk given to an audience.speech a formal talk given to an audience: Several people made speeches at the wedding.lecture a talk given to a group of people to tell them about a particular subject, often as part of a university or college course: a lecture on the Roman army ◇ a course/series of lecturesaddress a formal speech given to an audience: a televised presidential addressspeech or address?A speech can be given on a public or private occasion; an address is always public: He gave an address at the wedding.talk a fairly informal session in which somebody tells a group of people about a subject: She gave an interesting talk on her visit to China.sermon a talk on a moral or religious subject, usually given by a religious leader during a service: to preach a sermona long/short speech/lecture/address/talk/sermona keynote speech/lecture/addressto write/prepare/give/deliver/hear a(n) speech/lecture/address/talk/sermonto attend/go to a lecture/talk