Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - speaking

1. Speaking is the activity of giving speeches and talks. His work schedule still includes speaking engagements and other public appearances. N-UNCOUNT: oft supp N 2. You can say ‘speaking as a parent’ or ‘speaking as a teacher’, for example, to indicate that the opinion you are giving is based on your experience as a parent or as a teacher. Well, speaking as a journalist I’m dismayed by the amount of pressure there is for pictures of combat. PREP-PHRASE 3. You can say speaking of something that has just been mentioned as a way of introducing a new topic which has some connection with that thing. There’s plenty of time to drop hints for Christmas presents! And speaking of presents, we have 100 exclusive fragrance collections to give away. = talking of PREP-PHRASE 4. You use speaking in expressions such as generally speaking and technically speaking to indicate which things or which particular aspect of something you are talking about. Generally speaking there was no resistance to the idea... Politically speaking, do you think that these moves have been effective? PHRASE: PHR with cl