talking

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɔkɪŋ/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈtɑkɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːkɪŋ
• Hyphenation: talk‧ing

From Middle English talkynge, equivalent to talk +‎ -ing.

talking (countable and uncountable, plural talkings)

1. The action of the verb talk.
   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant.

   • 1864–65, Anthony Trollope, Can You Forgive Her?

     He did not himself care for the loose little talkings, half flat and half sharp, of men when they meet together in idleness.

From Middle English talkyng, talkynge, equivalent to talk +‎ -ing.

talking

1. present participle and gerund of talk