ˈtalənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English talent, talente; in sense 1, from Old English talente, from Latin talenta, plural of talentum unit of weight or money, from Greek talanton balance, pair of scales, unit of weight or money; akin to Latin tollere to lift up — more at tolerate; in sense 2, from Old French talent inclination, desire, disposition, from Medieval Latin talentum, perhaps from Latin, unit of weight or money; in remaining senses from Middle English, unit of money; from the parable of the talents in Mt 25:14-30
1.
a. : any of several ancient units of weight (as a Babylonian unit equal to 3600 shekels, a unit equal to 3000 shekels used in Palestine and Syria, and a Greek unit equal to 6000 drachmas)
b. : a unit of value equal to the value of a talent of gold or silver
c. obsolete : wealth , riches, abundance
2.
a. archaic : a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal
b. obsolete : an evil disposition or attitude : passion , anger
3. : the abilities, powers, and gifts bestowed upon a man : natural endowments
the stewardship of your time, talent , and treasure
the talents which God has given you as a divine trust
4.
a. : a special innate or developed aptitude for an expressed or implied activity usually of a creative or artistic nature
the possessor of rare talent as a pianist — Arthur Krock
mental characteristics … connected with mathematical talent — C.R.Fish
the American mind with its great talent for satire — J.B.Priestley
credits the ladies … with a great talent for intrigue — A.M.Young
has no talent for metaphysical speculation — J.W.Beach
a man with a talent for ingratitude and unsociability — T.S.Eliot
man's industrious and senseless talent for involving himself in the superfluous — James Boyd
— often used in plural
students with talents in music find both recreation and training — Bulletin of Bates College
opportunity for the exercise of his political talents — C.L.Becker
b. : general intelligence or mental power : ability
the labors of many scholars of talent , and some few of genius, had brought new technique to lexicography — R.W.Chapman
talent is a wishy-washy thing unless … solidly founded on honest hard work — E.G.Coleman
this task calls for … sheer imaginative talent — R.D.Altick
5.
a. : a person of talent usually in a specific branch of activity
he was a minor talent , but authentic — Malcolm Cowley
the most … significant talents in contemporary writing — Richard Watts
younger talents came to the fore — Hans Kohn
collectively : a number of persons of talent in a usually specified field or activity
argued with an immense array of legal talent — D.W.Brogan
competing … for top-grade scientific talent — Vannevar Bush
methods of recruiting athletic talent — Robert Rice
b. : one that is talented or skilled in a performing art
one of Hollywood's most luminous talents — Seymour Peck
one of our big spontaneous musical talents — Arthur Berger
collectively : those engaged in a performing art
the succession of new, worthwhile talent was augmented by … a young baritone — Irving Kolodin
the young talent … caromed off to Hollywood — W.I.Nichols
staging the show with local talent
Synonyms: see gift