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What is the difference between conversation and dialogue?

conversation | dialogue | Synonyms |

Dialogue is a synonym of conversation.



In obsolete terms the difference between conversation and dialogue

is that conversation is sexual intercourse while dialogue is to take part in a dialogue; to dialogize.

In computing terms the difference between conversation and dialogue

is that conversation is the protocol-based interaction between systems processing a transaction while dialogue is a dialogue box.

As nouns the difference between conversation and dialogue

is that conversation is expression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people; also, a set instance or occasion of such talking while dialogue is a conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.

As verbs the difference between conversation and dialogue

is that conversation is to engage in conversation (with) while dialogue is to discuss or negotiate so that all parties can reach an understanding.

conversation

Noun

(en noun)
  • Expression and exchange of individual ideas through talking with other people; also, a set instance or occasion of such talking.
  • * 1699 , , Heads designed for an essay on conversations
  • Study gives strength to the mind; conversation , grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=When this conversation was repeated in detail within the hearing of the young woman in question, and undoubtedly for his benefit, Mr. Trevor threw shame to the winds and scandalized the Misses Brewster then and there by proclaiming his father to have been a country storekeeper.}}
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill.
  • (fencing) The back-and-forth play of the blades in a bout.
  • (obsolete) Interaction; commerce or intercourse with other people; dealing with others.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts XI:
  • Yt chaunsed thatt a whole yere they had their conversacion with the congregacion there, and taught moche people insomoche thatt the disciples off Antioche we the fyrst that wer called Christen.
  • (archaic) Behaviour, the way one conducts oneself; a person's way of life.
  • *, New York Review of Books, 2001, p.50:
  • There are many that take no heed what happeneth to others by bad conversation , and therefore overthrow themselves in the same manner through their own fault, not foreseeing dangers manifest.
  • (obsolete) Sexual intercourse.
  • * 1723 , Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury :
  • (Ariadne)quitted her Lover (Theseus), for the tumultuous Conversation of (Bacchus).
  • * 1749 , (Henry Fielding), , Folio Society 1973, p. 333:
  • The landlady therefore would by no means have admitted any conversation of a disreputable kind to pass under her roof.
  • (computing) The protocol-based interaction between systems processing a transaction.
  • Synonyms

    * (expression and exchange of ideas through talking) banter, chat, chinwag, dialogue, discussion, interlocution, powwow, table talk

    Derived terms

    * conversational * conversation piece

    Usage notes

    * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence. * To have' a conversation, and to ' hold a conversation, both mean to converse. * See

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (nonstandard, ambitransitive) To engage in conversation (with).
  • * 1983 , James Frederick Mason, Hélène Joséphine Harvitt, The French review
  • Gone now are the "high-minded" style, the "adapted from literature" feel, the voice-over narration, and the abstract conversationing about ideas, values...
  • * 1989 , Robert L Gale, A Henry James encyclopedia
  • ...he has breakfasted me, dined me, conversationed me, absolutely caressed me. He has been really most kind and paternal...
  • * 2002 , Georgie Nickell, I Only Smoke on Thursdays
  • After all this conversationing , Scottie, my usual dance partner, was getting antsy and wanted to dance.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    dialogue

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (US and computing) dialog

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.
  • Bill and Melinda maintained a dialogue via email over the course of their long-distance relationship.
  • * 2013 , Paul Harris, Lance Armstrong faces multi-million dollar legal challenges after confession'' (in ''The Guardian , 19 January 2013)[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/19/lance-armstrong-legal-challenges-confession]
  • The hours of dialogue with Winfrey, which culminated in a choked-up moment on Friday night as he discussed the impact of his cheating on his family, appear to have failed to give Armstrong the redemption that he craves.
  • In a dramatic or literary presentation, the verbal parts of the script or text; the verbalizations of the actors or characters.
  • The movie had great special effects, but the dialogue was lackluster.
  • A literary form, where the presentation resembles a conversation.
  • A literary historian, she specialized in the dialogues of ancient Greek philosophers.
  • (computing) A dialogue box.
  • Once the My Computer dialogue opens, select Local Disk (C:), then right click and scroll down.

    Antonyms

    * introspection * monologue * multilogue

    Derived terms

    ( conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals) * dialogic * dialogical * dialogically * dialogism * dialogist * dialogistic * dialogistically * dialogize * modal dialogue

    Verb

    (dialogu)
  • (informal, business) To discuss or negotiate so that all parties can reach an understanding.
  • Pearson wanted to dialogue with his overseas counterparts about the new reporting requirements.
  • (obsolete) To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize.
  • (Shakespeare)