talent

UK: /ˈtælənt/ US: /ˈtælənt/ ,(tal′ənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tal•ent /ˈtælənt/   n. 

1. a special, often creative natural ability or skill:
   [countable] a talent for drawing.
   [uncountable] to show talent in drawing.
2. one with special ability, esp. in a particular field:
   [countable] the local talent.
3. Weights and Measures an ancient unit of weight, as of the Middle East or of Greece.

tal•ent•ed, adj. 

: a very talented actress.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tal•ent  (tal′ənt), n. 

1. a special natural ability or aptitude:
   a talent for drawing.
2. a capacity for achievement or success;
   ability:
   young men of talent.
3. a talented person:
   The cast includes many of the theater's major talents.
4. a group of persons with special ability:
   an exhibition of watercolors by the local talent.
5. Cinema, Show Business [Motion Pictures and Television.] professional actors collectively, esp. star performers.
6. a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14–30.
7. Weights and Measures any of various ancient units of weight, as a unit of Palestine and Syria equal to 3000 shekels, or a unit of Greece equal to 6000 drachmas.
8. Currency any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal.
9. [Obs.] inclination or disposition.

• Greek tálanton balance, weight, monetary unit
• Latin talenta, plural of talentum
• Middle English, Old English talente bef. 900

Synonyms

• 1. capability, gift, genius. See ability. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

talent / ˈtælənt/ noun

1. innate ability, aptitude, or faculty, esp when unspecified; above average ability: a talent for cooking, a child with talent
2. a person or persons possessing such ability
3. any of various ancient units of weight and money
4. sexually attractive people collectively, esp those living in a particular place: the local talent
5. an obsolete word for inclination

Etymology: Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30)

ˈtalented adjective