converse

/kənˈvɜːrs/ (verb), /ˈkɒnvɜːrs/ (noun, adjective)

verb

  1. To engage in spoken or written exchange of thoughts, ideas, or feelings; talk informally.

    B1

    intransitiveformal

    • "We conversed for hours about philosophy."B1
    • "He finds it difficult to converse in a noisy room."B2
    • "The diplomats conversed in hushed tones."C1

  2. to talk with someone

    B2

    intransitive; formal or literary

    • "The two scholars conversed in the library."B2
    • "We conversed for a few minutes after the meeting."C1

noun

  1. A statement that is the reverse of another statement; a logical opposite.

    B2

    countableformal

    • "The converse of 'All dogs are mammals' is 'Some mammals are dogs'."B2
    • "In mathematics, the converse of a theorem is not always true."C1
    • "She argued the converse, claiming that the situation was the opposite."B2

  2. The opposite of something; something reversed in order or relation.

    B2

    singularformal

    • "The converse of success is failure."A2
    • "He believed the converse of what she said."B1

  3. the opposite or reverse of something

    B2

    countable; usually singular

    • "The converse of that statement is not necessarily true."B2
    • "We discussed the converse of the theorem."C1

  4. conversation or social talk

    B2

    uncountableliterary or formal

    • "They engaged in polite converse for an hour."C1
    • "After dinner, the guests enjoyed quiet converse."C1

adjective

  1. Reversed in order, relation, or action; opposite.

    B2

    formal

    • "They held converse opinions on the matter."B2
    • "The converse effect was observed when the temperature dropped."C1

  2. acting in the opposite way or direction; reverse

    B2
    • "The converse argument is also true."B2
    • "If A increases, B may decrease; the converse is not always true."C1

Common mistakes

  • conversate→converse

    'Conversate' is nonstandard; use 'converse' as the verb form.

Collocations

converse aboutconverse withconverse freely

Word family

conversationconversationalconversationalistconversing