tête-à-tête
Intimate face-to-face meeting
A tête-à-tête is a private conversation between two people, from the French for "head to head." The word suggests intimacy and confidentiality—lovers have tête-à-têtes, as do diplomats conducting back-channel negotiations.
As an adjective or adverb, it describes such encounters: They met tête-à-tête to discuss the matter.
A tête-à-tête may also be a small sofa designed for two people to sit facing each other.
Informal verbal exchange
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- heart-to-heartSincere personal discussion
- one-on-oneDirect, between two
- whispered wordsSpeech at minimal volume
pillow talk · quiet word · aside · intimate moment · confession
Small upholstered seating furniture
- loveseatTwo-person sofa
- confidanteTrusted female friend
- vis-à-visIn relation to
- two-seaterVehicle accommodating two passengers
Victorian · upholstered · tufted · ornate · antique · mahogany · velvet · carved
chat
Informal verbal exchange
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- heart-to-heartSincere personal discussion
- one-on-oneDirect, between two
whispered words · pillow talk · quiet word · aside · intimate moment · confession
settee
Small upholstered seating furniture
- loveseatTwo-person sofa
- confidanteTrusted female friend
- vis-à-visIn relation to
two-seater · Victorian · upholstered · tufted · ornate · antique · mahogany · velvet · carved
tête-à-têtegroup discussion
Collaborative conversation among several
conference · assembly · committee meeting · symposium · crowd
tête-à-têtepublicly
In open view
openly · public address · public announcement · broadcast · press conference
tête-à-têteindirectly
Via intermediate means
distantly · at arm's length · mass communication · correspondence · remote communication