gossip

gos|sip¹ [ˈgɔsıp US ˈga:-] n

[: Old English; Origin: godsibb 'godparent, close friend', from god 'god' + sibb 'relative']

1.) [U]

information that is passed from one person to another about other people's behaviour and private lives, often including unkind or untrue remarks

gossip about

▪ Here's an interesting piece of gossip about Mrs Smith.

▪ What's the latest gossip ?

▪ Do you want to hear some juicy gossip ?

▪ She had no time for idle gossip .

▪ It was common gossip how he felt about her.

▪ You miss a lot of office gossip when you have a day off work.

▪ On Sundays all the men gather in the square to exchange local gossip .

2.) [C usually singular]

a conversation in which you exchange information with someone about other people's lives and things that have happened

▪ Phil's in there, having a gossip with Maggie.

3.)

someone who likes talking about other people's private lives - used to show disapproval

▪ Rick's a terrible gossip.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

COLLOCATES for sense 1

piece of gossip

the latest gossip

juicy/hot gossip (=interesting gossip)

idle gossip (=gossip not based on facts)

common gossip (=something that everyone knows and is talking about)

office gossip

village gossip British English

exchange gossip (=talk about other people's private lives with someone)

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

gossip ²

gossip² v [I]

to talk about other people's behaviour and private lives, often including remarks that are unkind or untrue

gossip about

▪ The whole town was gossiping about them.