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chatter definition

chat·ter (c̸hat′ər)

intransitive verb

  1. to make short, indistinct sounds in rapid succession birds and squirrels chatter
  2. to talk fast, incessantly, and foolishly
  3. to click together rapidly, as the teeth do when the lower jaw trembles from fright or cold
  4. to rattle or vibrate an improperly adjusted tool chatters

Etymology: ME chateren: orig. echoic

transitive verb

to utter with a chattering sound

noun

  1. the act or sound of chattering
  2. rapid, foolish talk

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chatter Synonyms

chatter

v.

prattle, jabber, gossip, chat; see babble.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chatter Usage Examples

Object

  • tooth: My mouth was dry and I bit my tongue in an effort to control my chattering teeth.

Converse of object

  • post: General chatter Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:37 pm Subject: Beside myself with excitement!

Adjective modifier

  • incessant: The weaver birds began their incessant noisy chatter, fighting for the best position to build a new nest.

Modifying Another Word

  • excitedly: In a tree overhead, a giant black squirrel chattered excitedly at our intrusion.

Noun used with modifier

  • dinner: I ate my lunch at 1p.m. as usual, somewhat apprehensively, knowing full well what the after dinner chatter would be about.

Preposition: of

  • bird: There wasn't even the usual hum of insects or the chatter of birds.
chatter usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

chatter quotes

Man sol so"   vrouwen ziehen† das si u«  ppecl|"che spru«  che lasen under wegen. Women should be trained in such a way that they avoid idle chatter.

-Anonymous

For themost of us, if we donot talkof ourselves, orat any rate of the individual circles of which we are the centres, we can talk of nothing. I cannot hold with those who wish to put down the insignificant chatter of the world.

-Trollope, Anthony

chatter quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"chatter." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/chatter>

APA Style

chatter. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/chatter

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