S.H.
Ditto a lot of the women here below.
Gossip is saying things without fact and not knowing if it is true or not. And being denigrating about it, about the person.
And saying it... while knowingly... divulging a person's privacy and/or if they told you, it is private and do not tell anyone.
It is, destroying their confidentiality, as well.
But among all friends and chatting, many things are chatted about.. in the realm of "conversation." But that does not mean, divulging another person's confidential information.
People usually gossip... but among FRIENDS... then chatting/talking/having a conversation... should not be about talking "stink" about that other friend that is not there.
A friend.... would not do that to another friend. Nor mock them.
Gossip, is usually done with in a negative way, about another person.