DictionaryAI

talent

noun
SayTAL-uhnt/ˈtælənt/UK/ˈtalənt/

Pluraltalents

5 meanings of talent

Practice

  1. 1
    natural giftnouncountable or uncountable
    A natural ability to do something very well.

    Like being able to swim well the very first time you try.

    She has a real talent for drawing animals.

    His musical talent surprised everyone at the school show.

    UsageSay a talent for something: a talent for drawing.

    Similargift, skill, ability, aptitude, flair

    Note
  2. 2
    gifted peoplenouncountable or uncountable
    Skilled people seen as a group, or one skilled person.

    Like a team picking the best players from a crowd to join it.

    The TV show looks for new talent every year.

    This company works hard to keep its best talent.

    UsageOften new talent or talent scout. The talent can mean the performers on a show.

    Note
  3. 3
    ancient moneynounhistoricalcountable
    An old measure of weight and money used in ancient times.

    Like a very heavy bag of coins used as money long ago.

    A single talent of silver could buy many acres of land.

    The king demanded fifty talents from the conquered city.

    UsageSay a talent of silver or gold.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    attractive peoplenounslanguncountable
    Good-looking people in a place, seen as a group.

    They went to the party to check out the talent.

    The guys stood by the bar, checking out the local talent.

    UsageSaid as check out the talent. It can easily upset people.

    Note
  2. 5
    nounobsolete
    A wish or liking for something.
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin talentum, a Greek weight and sum of money, from Greek tálanton. In Middle English, Old French talent added the sense "desire", while the meaning "natural ability" grew from the biblical Parable of the Talents.