1. condensed or abbreviated speech in which only the most central words, carrying the highest level of information, are spoken. Nouns and verbs are typically featured, whereas adjectives, adverbs, articles, and connective parts of speech are omitted.

2. the speech of children roughly between the ages of 18 and 30 months. This is usually in the form of two-word expressions up to the age of about 24 months (see two-word stage) and thereafter is characterized by short but multiword expressions (e.g., dog eat bone). Also called telegraphic stage.