ˈlɪɹ.ɪk ɹaʊ ˈspiːtʃ wɜːdz ˈɹæŋ.ɡəl language that is spoken or written he has a gift for words she put her thoughts into words words making up the dialogue of a play the actor forgot his speech the text of a popular song or musical-comedy number his compositions always started with the lyrics he wrote both words and music the song uses colloquial language the words that are spoken I listened to his words very closely an angry dispute they had a quarrel they had words