Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Talent \Tal"ent\, n. [F., fr. L. talentum a talent (in sense 1),
   Gr. ? a balance, anything weighed, a definite weight, a
   talent; akin to ? to bear, endure, ?, L. tolerare, tollere,
   to lift up, sustain, endure. See {Thole}, v. t., {Tolerate}.]
   1. Among the ancient Greeks, a weight and a denomination of
      money equal to 60 min[ae] or 6,000 drachm[ae]. The Attic
      talent, as a weight, was about 57 lbs. avoirdupois; as a
      denomination of silver money, its value was [pounds]243
      15s. sterling, or about $1,180.

            Rowing vessel whose burden does not exceed five
            hundred talents.                      --Jowett
                                                  (Thucid.).

   2. Among the Hebrews, a weight and denomination of money. For
      silver it was equivalent to 3,000 shekels, and in weight
      was equal to about 93? lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination
      of silver, it has been variously estimated at from
      [pounds]340 to [pounds]396 sterling, or about $1,645 to
      $1,916. For gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels.

   3. Inclination; will; disposition; desire. [Obs.]

            They rather counseled you to your talent than to
            your profit.                          --Chaucer.

   4. Intellectual ability, natural or acquired; mental
      endowment or capacity; skill in accomplishing; a special
      gift, particularly in business, art, or the like; faculty;
      a use of the word probably originating in the Scripture
      parable of the talents (--Matt. xxv. 14-30).

            He is chiefly to be considered in his three
            different talents, as a critic, a satirist, and a
            writer of odes.                       --Dryden.

            His talents, his accomplishments, his graceful
            manners, made him generally popular.  --Macaulay.

   Syn: Ability; faculty; gift; endowment. See {Genius}.

Source : WordNet®

talent
     n 1: natural qualities or talents [syn: {endowment}, {gift}, {natural
          endowment}]
     2: a person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field
        or activity