Meanings
plural crosstalks · alternative cross-talk · alternative cross talk
- countableuncountablebusinessUndesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit; undesired coupling between circuits.
- countableuncountablebiologyThe situation where one or more components of a signal transduction pathway affect another pathway.
- countableuncountableConversation that is incidental to the topic under discussion.
I couldn't hear the opening address because of all the crosstalk around me.
- countableuncountableA traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue.
Synonyms: xiangsheng
- countableuncountableCommunication between parties who have extremely different perspectives.
Sharing resources for mutual benefit: crosstalk between disciplines deepns the understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses.
2020, Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life, page 239
present singular third person crosstalks · participle present crosstalking · participle past crosstalked · past crosstalked · alternative cross-talk · alternative cross talk
- To hold an incidental conversation
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe presence of an unwanted signal via an accidental coupling
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From cross- + talk. Usage in reference to the Chinese comedic performance is probably a loose calque from Chinese 相聲／相声 (xiàngsheng).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 串擾 /串扰, 串音
- 串擾 /串扰 (chuànrǎo)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- 串音 (chuànyīn)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- 串音干擾 (chuànyīn gānrǎo)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- 串綫 /串线 (chuànxiàn)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- 相聲 /相声 (xiàngsheng)traditional Chinese comedic performance
Finnish ylikuuluminen, hälinä
- ylikuuluminenundesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- hälinäconversation that is incidental to the topic under discussion
- xiangshengtraditional Chinese comedic performance
French diaphonie
- diaphonieundesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
German Übersprechen, Nebensprechen
- Übersprechenundesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- Nebensprechenundesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- Xiangshengtraditional Chinese comedic performance
Japanese 漏話, クロストーク
- 漏話 (rōwa)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- クロストーク (kurosutōku)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- 相声traditional Chinese comedic performance
Korean 상성
- 상성 (sangseong)traditional Chinese comedic performance
Malay cakap silang
- cakap silangundesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
Russian перекрёстные поме́хи, болтовня́
- перекрёстные поме́хи (perekrjóstnyje poméxi)undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit (electronics)
- болтовня́ (boltovnjá)conversation that is incidental to the topic under discussion
- трескотня́ (treskotnjá)conversation that is incidental to the topic under discussion
- сяншэ́н (sjanšɛ́n)traditional Chinese comedic performance
Cite this entry
crosstalk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosstalk
“crosstalk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosstalk. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “crosstalk,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/crosstalk.
Source: crosstalk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.