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Noun: gossip  gó-sip
  1. Light informal conversation for social occasions
    - chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chit chat [informal], small talk, gab [informal], gabfest [N. Amer, informal], tittle-tattle, chinwag [Brit, informal], chin-wag [Brit, informal], chin-wagging [Brit, informal], causerie, bavardage [literary], chinwag [Brit, informal]
     
  2. A report (often malicious) about the behaviour of other people
    "the divorce caused much gossip";
    - comment, scuttlebutt [N. Amer, informal], goss [Brit, informal]
     
  3. A person given to gossiping and divulging personal information about others
    - gossiper, gossipmonger, rumormonger [US], rumourmonger [Brit, Cdn], newsmonger
Verb: gossip  gó-sip
  1. Talk informally about someone else's private or personal business, esp. spreading negative or scandalous information even though it has not been confirmed to be true
    "She won't gossip";
    - dish the dirt [informal], dish [N. Amer, informal]
     
  2. Talk socially without exchanging too much information
    "the men were sitting in the cafe and gossiping";
    - chew the fat [informal], shoot the breeze [N. Amer, informal], chat, confabulate, confab [informal], chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chatter, chaffer, natter [informal], jaw [informal], claver [UK, dialect], visit [N. Amer, informal], chew the rag [informal], gas [informal], gab [informal]

Derived forms: gossiping, gossiped, gossips

Type of: account, chat, chin-wag [Brit, informal], communicator, confab [informal], confabulation, converse, discourse, natter [informal], report, schmoose [informal], schmooze [informal], speak, talk

Encyclopedia: Gossip