PALAVER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does palaver mean? 

• PALAVER (noun)
  The noun PALAVER has 2 senses:

1. flattery intended to persuade

2. loud and confused and empty talk

  Familiarity information: PALAVER used as a noun is rare.

• PALAVER (verb)
  The verb PALAVER has 3 senses:

1. speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly

2. influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

3. have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds

  Familiarity information: PALAVER used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PALAVER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flattery intended to persuade

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

blandishment; cajolery; palaver

Hypernyms ("palaver" is a kind of...):

flattery (excessive or insincere praise)

Derivation:

palaver (influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Loud and confused and empty talk

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

empty talk; empty words; hot air; palaver; rhetoric

Context example:

mere rhetoric

Hypernyms ("palaver" is a kind of...):

bunk; hokum; meaninglessness; nonsense; nonsensicality (a message that seems to convey no meaning)

Derivation:

palaver (speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly)

• PALAVER (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

blab; blabber; chatter; clack; gabble; gibber; maunder; palaver; piffle; prate; prattle; tattle; tittle-tattle; twaddle

Hypernyms (to "palaver" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "palaver"):

babble; blather; blether; blither; smatter (to talk foolishly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

palaver (loud and confused and empty talk)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

blarney; cajole; coax; inveigle; palaver; sweet-talk; wheedle

Context example:

He palavered her into going along

Hypernyms (to "palaver" is one way to...):

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "palaver"):

soft-soap (persuade someone through flattery)

browbeat; bully; swagger (discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Derivation:

palaver (flattery intended to persuade)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "palaver" is one way to...):

parley (discuss, as between enemies)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue palaver
Sam wants to palaver with Sue