frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

the whole staff when he expresses worries about the cuts. c
demand, require, beg, request, ask for: The situation speaks
urgently for an effective drug rehabilitation programme. 8 speak
for itself. be self-evident, be obvious, be significant: The
fact that both your son and the ring are missing speaks for
itself. 9 speak of. mention, advert to, allude to, refer to,
make reference to, comment on, speak or talk about: I begged
you not to speak of her again in my presence. 10 speak on.
discuss, address, discourse upon or on, speak to, treat (of),
deal with, examine, touch upon or on: In his presentation Dr
Andrews spoke on the role of natural predators in pest control.
11 speak out or up. a talk (more) loudly or clearly, make
oneself heard: I cannot hear you unless you speak up a bit. b
talk freely or unreservedly, express one's opinion, speak one's
mind, declare, come out, state one's position, take a stand: I
heard a mother of ten speak out against birth control. 12 speak
to. a reprove, scold, reprimand, rebuke, admonish, warn,
lecture: After his father spoke to him, Nicholas stopped
staying out so late. b be meaningful to, appeal to, influence,
affect, touch: Constance's poetry effectively speaks to the
heart. c accost, address, talk to, Formal apostrophize: I have
to speak to the teacher after class. d See 10, above. 13
spoken for. reserved, engaged, bespoke, set aside, accounted
for, chosen, selected: I'm afraid that the purple dress has
already been spoken for, madam.
speaker n. orator, lecturer; keynoter; rabble-rouser, demagogue, Colloq
tub-thumper, spieler: It was my function to introduce the
speaker.
spearhead v. 1 launch, initiate, lead (the way), take the initiative,
pioneer, blaze the trail, break the ice, take the lead, be in
the van or vanguard: He spearheaded medical research into
arthritis.
--n. 2 vanguard, advance guard, van, forefront, cutting edge:
They claim to be the spearhead of space technology.
special adj. 1 particular, specific, exceptional, uncommon, especial,
rare, unusual, out of the ordinary, extraordinary, different,
unorthodox, unconventional, unique, precise, individual,
singular, distinctive, specialized, certain, remarkable,
inimitable, idiosyncratic, curious, peculiar, odd, strange,