confab
Informal group discussion
A confab is an informal conversation or discussion, often a brief chat: We had a quick confab about the schedule.
It also serves as a verb meaning to converse casually: They confabbed in the hallway between meetings.
The word carries a friendly, relaxed tone—more casual than conference, less formal than consultation.
Organized meeting for discussion
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
- huddleClose protective gathering
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
- sessionScheduled time for activity
summit · debriefing · roundtable · sit-down · caucus · conclave · deliberation · briefing
Verbal exchange between people
- discussionExchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- discourseFormal communication on subjects
chat · colloquy · interlocution · tête-à-tête · palaver · converse · back-and-forth · give-and-take
Trivial, idle chatter
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- grapevineInformal gossip network
buzz · rumor · backbiting · dish · dirt · speculation · innuendo · talebearing
conference
Organized meeting for discussion
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
- huddleClose protective gathering
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
session · summit · debriefing · roundtable · sit-down · caucus · conclave · deliberation · briefing · powwow
talk
Verbal exchange between people
- discussionExchange of ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
discourse · chat · colloquy · interlocution · tête-à-tête · palaver · converse · back-and-forth · give-and-take · repartee
tittle-tattle
Trivial, idle chatter
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- whisperSpeech without full voice
grapevine · buzz · rumor · backbiting · dish · dirt · speculation · innuendo · talebearing · juicy details
- chatterchat, chatter, chatting, chitchat, chit-chat
- conversationschat, talk, discussion, discuss, chatter
- talkchat, chatter, chitchat, gab, jabber
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- talkstalk, conversation, chat, discussion, dialogue
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
confabsummit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
board meeting · congressional hearing · tribunal · deposition · ceremony
confablistening
Attending to sound
silence · monologue · lecture · speechifying · sermon
confabisolation
Complete separation from others
solitude · seclusion · withdrawal · incommunicado · estrangement