chat
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++chat1 /tʃæt/ ●●○ verb (chatted, chatting) [intransitive] 1 (also chat away) especially British EnglishTALK TO somebody to talk in a friendly informal way, especially about things that are not important 闲聊，闲谈，聊天 John and I sat up until the early hours chatting. 我和约翰聊到凌晨才睡。chat with/to Mary was there, chatting to her mother. 玛丽也在，和她母亲闲聊。chat about Susie chatted away about her social life. 苏茜聊起了她的社交生活。2. to communicate with several people in a chat room on the Internet 〔在网上聊天室里〕聊天3 chat somebody ↔ up phrasal verb British English informalTALK TO somebody to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them 与…搭讪，与…调情 I spent the evening chatting up Liz. 我整晚都在和利兹调情。n GRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsChat is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or things do something that involves both or all of them: The boys were chatting. You can also say: The boys were chatting with each other.He was chatting with the boys.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
chat• The girls were sitting on the steps, chatting.• We drank our coffee and chatted about our experiences.• The two women chatted all evening.• Taking a breath, Calipari smiles and wades into the throng, chatting amiably as he obliges each request.• That would be her neighbour wanting to chat for a few minutes.• Ever so subtly, still chatting navigation with me, Neil accommodates, reeling Rachel in at just the right time.• Meanwhile, over breakfast, we chatted of this and that.• Harry chatted to a couple of Australian tourists as we waited for the show to begin.• You can chat to Brad Pitt live this evening.• However, time passed pleasantly enough, chatting to other members of my group and absorbing the atmosphere of the building.• When Dexter met the superintendent twenty minutes later, Blanche stood outside the Inside Out office still chatting to the security guard.• We were alone, with a dilatory guard outside chatting with a secretary.chat with/to• Some pass the evening chatting to a Member of Parliament on a fact-finding mission.• A companion who would sit and chat with her, like she and Maisie used to chat?• The parents and grandparents chat with one another as they get their books together and begin to go downstairs.• Dad really enjoys chatting with people from other countries.• The three of them chatted with some of the Soviet negotiators to the Geneva talks.• In 1980 I got chatting to Stan Francourt, the caddie who was with me when I had the accident in 1973.• This woman with a red headscarf is looking at them and chatting to the man behind the stall.• When Dexter met the superintendent twenty minutes later, Blanche stood outside the Inside Out office still chatting to the security guard.chat2 ●●○ noun [countable, uncountable] 1 especially British EnglishTALK TO somebody an informal friendly conversation 闲谈，聊天chat with I’ve had a long chat with Vinnie. 我和文尼聊了好一会儿。chat about a chat about the weather 聊天气 She was enjoying their friendly little chat. 她很喜欢他们那种友好的闲聊。 She used to drop in for a chat quite often. 她以前常常会过来聊聊天。 → backchatn COLLOCATIONSverbshave a chatWe were just having a chat.call in/round for a chatAre you free later if I call in for a chat?meet up for a chatSometimes we go to the cinema or just meet up for a chat.enjoy a chatMost people enjoy a good chat.adjectivesa little chatWhy don’t you call her and have a little chat.a brief chat formal:My manager said he wanted to have a brief chat with me.a bit of a chat spoken British English:Perhaps I could have a bit of a chat with him.a long chatWe sat down and had a long chat.a friendly chatNew students sometimes just need to have a friendly chat with someone.a cosy chat (=a relaxed and usually private one)I made some coffee and we had a cosy chat.an informal chatCome and see me any time if you want an informal chat about jobs.a private/confidential chatHave a confidential chat with the school nurse.a quiet chat (=one that other people will not interrupt.)Let’s go and have a quiet chat over lunch.an online chat (=one had with someone over the internet)With MSN you can have an online chat with your friends.Examples from the Corpus
chat• You and your companion can learn french, practise yoga - or simply have a coffee and a chat.• He was a very nice man and said we could come in for a chat.• He didn't want anything in particular. He just stopped for a chat.• I'm actually glad you're late - it gave Ken and me a chance to have a good chat.• Allow a minute or two of informal chat to relax both of you.• Informal chats with guests provide an excellent opportunity to meet consumers and answer their questions about farming and food production.• Sit down, my dear, I'd like to have a little chat with you.• She is a natural chat artiste and has pulled the Oprah act of walking into the crowd in speeches before.• Mary took Tina in the other room for a private chat.had ... chat• And he had the chat to go with it.• Suddenly he had time to chat.• He told me that he had chatted with my father.• You see, I had a chat with Nicola at the party and Maggie became hysterical.• I had a chat with Lynne Donato this morning.• She thought about the few times in the past two months when they had chatted over the phone.• They had a brief chat that Will remembers well.From Longman Business Dictionarychatchat /tʃæt/ verb [intransitive] COMPUTINGto have a conversation with other people on the Internet by typing in your wordsChatting is one of the most popular activities on the Internet. —chat noun [uncountable]Chat has its own jargon which is not used in other forms of English.→ See Verb tableOrigin chat2 (1400-1500) chatterchat1 verb →n GRAMMAR1chat2 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
Business about informal a Corpus especially friendly to in way, talk
chat
chat1 S2 /tʃæt/ 
noun [uncountable and countable]
especially British English an informal friendly conversation
chat with
I’ve had a long chat with Vinnie.
chat about
a chat about the weather
She was enjoying their friendly little chat.
She used to drop in for a chat quite often.
⇨ backchat
■ verbs
▪have a chat We were just having a chat.
▪call in/round for a chat Are you free later if I call in for a chat?
▪meet up for a chat Sometimes we go to the cinema or just meet up for a chat.
▪enjoy a chat Most people enjoy a good chat.
■ adjectives
▪a little chat Why don’t you call her and have a little chat.
▪a brief chat formal My manager said he wanted to have a brief chat with me.
▪a bit of a chat spoken BrE: Perhaps I could have a bit of a chat with him.
▪a long chat We sat down and had a long chat.
▪a friendly chat New students sometimes just need to have a friendly chat with someone.
▪a cosy chat (=a relaxed and usually private one) I made some coffee and we had a cosy chat.
▪an informal chat Come and see me any time if you want an informal chat about jobs.
▪a private/confidential chat Have a confidential chat with the school nurse.
▪a quiet chat (=one that other people will not interrupt.) Let’s go and have a quiet chat over lunch.
▪an online chat (=one had with someone over the internet) With MSN you can have an online chat with your friends.
chat2 verb (past tense and past participle chatted, present participle chatting) [intransitive]
John and I sat up until the early hours chatting.
chat with/to
Mary was there, chatting to her mother.
chat about
Susie chatted away about her social life.
2. to communicate with several people in a chat room on the Internet
chat somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
British English informal to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them:
I spent the evening chatting up Liz.
| I |
noun [uncountable and countable]especially British English an informal friendly conversation
chat with
chat about
⇨ backchat
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| II |
verb (past tense and past participle chatted, present participle chatting) [intransitive] Date: 1400-1500
Origin: chatter
1. (also chat away) especially British English to talk in a friendly informal way, especially about things that are not important:Origin: chatter
chat with/to
chat about
2. to communicate with several people in a chat room on the Internet
chat somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
British English informal to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them:
discussion a detailed conversation about sth that is considered to be important 指重要事情的讨论、谈论、商讨 ：◆ Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders. 两位领导人仍在进行讨论。 conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way 通常指私下的或非正式的交谈、谈话 ：◆ a telephone conversation 电话交谈 dialogue conversations in a book, play or film 指书、戏剧或电影中的对话、对白 ：◆ The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. 这部小说描述多，对话少。 A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute.* dialogue 亦指两个团体间为解决问题或结束争端进行的正式对话、讨论、交换意见 ：◆ The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue. 总统告诉等候的记者，刚才进行了一次富有建设性的对话。 talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or sth important for the people involved 常指对有关人员就某个问题或重要的事情进行的交谈、谈话、讨论、商讨 ：◆ I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects. 我和老板就我的事业前景进行了一次长谈。 debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue. 指公共集会上或议会里就某问题进行的、常以表决结束的辩论 ：◆ a debate on prison reform 关于监狱制度改革的辩论 consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about sth 指团体间在决策前进行的咨询、商讨、磋商 ：◆ There have been extensive consultations between the two countries. 两国之间进行了广泛磋商。 chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking 指友好的非正式交谈、聊天 NOTE The countable use of chat is especially British English.* chat 作可数名词尤用于英式英语 ：◆ I just called in for a chat about the kids. 我只是打电话来随便聊聊孩子的事情。 gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives 指关于他人及其私生活的闲谈、闲聊、说长道短 ：◆ We had a good gossip about the boss. 我们讲了好一会儿老板的闲话。
Patterns
a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about stha discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on sthin (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultationwith sbto have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossipwith sbto hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation
discussion a detailed conversation about sth that is considered to be important 指重要事情的讨论、谈论、商讨 ：◆ Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders. 两位领导人仍在进行讨论。 conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way 通常指私下的或非正式的交谈、谈话 ：◆ a telephone conversation 电话交谈 dialogue conversations in a book, play or film 指书、戏剧或电影中的对话、对白 ：◆ The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. 这部小说描述多，对话少。 A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute.* dialogue 亦指两个团体间为解决问题或结束争端进行的正式对话、讨论、交换意见 ：◆ The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue. 总统告诉等候的记者，刚才进行了一次富有建设性的对话。 talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or sth important for the people involved 常指对有关人员就某个问题或重要的事情进行的交谈、谈话、讨论、商讨 ：◆ I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects. 我和老板就我的事业前景进行了一次长谈。 debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue. 指公共集会上或议会里就某问题进行的、常以表决结束的辩论 ：◆ a debate on prison reform 关于监狱制度改革的辩论 consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about sth 指团体间在决策前进行的咨询、商讨、磋商 ：◆ There have been extensive consultations between the two countries. 两国之间进行了广泛磋商。 chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking 指友好的非正式交谈、聊天 NOTE The countable use of chat is especially British English.* chat 作可数名词尤用于英式英语 ：◆ I just called in for a chat about the kids. 我只是打电话来随便聊聊孩子的事情。 gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives 指关于他人及其私生活的闲谈、闲聊、说长道短 ：◆ We had a good gossip about the boss. 我们讲了好一会儿老板的闲话。
Patterns
a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about stha discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on sthin (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultationwith sbto have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossipwith sbto hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation