# crosstalk

> English word · Noun · frequency rank #61,395

## Definitions
1. Undesirable signals from a neighbouring transmission circuit; undesired coupling between circuits.
2. The situation where one or more components of a signal transduction pathway affect another pathway.
3. Conversation that is incidental to the topic under discussion.
4. A traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a dialogue.
5. Communication between parties who have extremely different perspectives.

## Etymology
From cross- + talk.
Usage in reference to the Chinese comedic performance is probably a loose calque from Chinese 相聲／相声 (xiàngsheng).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/crosstalk