PALAVER
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)
Meaning:
Flattery intended to persuade
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
palaver; cajolery; blandishment
Hypernyms ("palaver" is a kind of...):
flattery (excessive or insincere praise)
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)
• PALAVER (verb)
Meaning:
Speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
piffle; prate; prattle; tattle; tittle-tattle; palaver; gibber; gabble; blabber; twaddle; blab; maunder; clack; chatter
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
Meaning:
Influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
wheedle; sweet-talk; inveigle; coax; cajole; blarney; palaver
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
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
