From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum, from Ancient Greek τάλαντον.

• IPA: /ˈtælənt/
• (British, also) IPA: /ˈtalənt/

talent (plural talents)

1. A marked natural ability or skill. [from 15th c.]
   • 1936 Feb. 15, Ernest Hemingway, letter ↗ to Maxwell Perkins:

     Feel awfully about F. Scott Fitzgerald... I always knew he couldn't think—he never could—but he had a marvelous talent and the thing is to use it—not whine in public.

   He has a real talent for drawing.
2. (historical) A unit of weight and money used in ancient times in Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East, equal to about 30 to 60 kg in various times and places. [from 9th c.]
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, Matthew XXV:14-15 ↗:

     For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

3. (obsolete) A desire or inclination for something. [14th]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter [https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:12.20?rgn=div2;view=fulltext XX], in Le Morte Darthur, book X:

     But my hede said sir Palomydes I wille not ryde these thre dayes / […] / Truly said sir Lamorak / and I wille abyde here with you / And whan ye ryde / thenne wille I ryde / […] / therfor I pray you syr Dynadan abyde and ryde with vs / Feythfully said Dynadan I wylle not abyde for I haue suche a talent to see sir Tristram that I may not abyde longe from hym

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

4. (business, media, sports) People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person. [from 19th c.]

   The director searched their talent pool to fill the new opening.

5. (slang) The men or (especially) women of a place or area, judged by their attractiveness. [from 20th c.]

   Not much talent in this bar tonight—let's hit the clubs.

• See also Thesaurus:skill

• French: talent
• German: Talent, Begabung
• Italian: talento
• Portuguese: talento
• Russian: тала́нт
• Spanish: talento

• French: talent
• German: Talent
• Italian: talento
• Portuguese: talento
• Russian: тала́нт
• Spanish: talento

• Italian: talenti
• Spanish: talentosos

• French: talent
• Italian: talento
• Portuguese: talento
• Russian: тала́нт
• Spanish: talentoso

1. A city in Jackson County, Oregon.