1. (

• relation ,
• telling ,
• recounting

) an act of narration; "he was the hero according to his own relation"; "his endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable" ;

2. (

• telling ,
• apprisal ,
• notification

) informing by words ;

3. (

• tattle ,
• singing ,
• telling ,

) disclosing information or giving evidence about another ;

1. (

• revealing ,
• telling ,
• telltale

) disclosing unintentionally something concealed; "a telling smile"; "a telltale panel of lights"; "a telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down" ;

2. (

• cogent ,
• telling ,
• weighty

) powerfully persuasive; "a cogent argument"; "a telling presentation"; "a weighty argument" ;

3. (

• impressive ,
• telling

) producing a strong effect; "gave an impressive performance as Othello"; "a telling gesture" ;