TALK DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does talk down mean? 

• TALK DOWN (verb)
  The verb TALK DOWN has 3 senses:

1. belittle through talk

2. speak in a condescending manner, as if to a child

3. direct and control (the flight of an airplane during landing) via radio

  Familiarity information: TALK DOWN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TALK DOWN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Belittle through talk

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "talk down" is one way to...):

belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize (cause to seem less serious; play down)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Speak in a condescending manner, as if to a child

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

He talks down to her

Hypernyms (to "talk down" is one way to...):

speak; talk (exchange thoughts; talk with)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s to somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Direct and control (the flight of an airplane during landing) via radio

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

the control tower talked down the plane whose pilot fell ill

Hypernyms (to "talk down" is one way to...):

direct (give directions to; point somebody into a certain direction)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody