chatter Hear it!

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

chatter Related Forms

chat′·terer noun

chatter Synonyms

chatter

v.

prattle, jabber, gossip, chat; see babble.

chatter Usage Examples

Object

  • tooth: My mouth was dry and I bit my tongue in an effort to control my chattering teeth.
  • class: How far can you get from the London literary chattering classes!
  • noise: Thus the wonderful director's note: " The fridge has started to make chattering noises.

Converse of object

  • post: General chatter Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:37 pm Subject: Beside myself with excitement!
  • hear: Whichever alternative you choose, for stimulation, the breeding birds need to hear the chatter of the others.

Adjective modifier

  • incessant: The weaver birds began their incessant noisy chatter, fighting for the best position to build a new nest.
  • inane: Many thanks to Jo for driving me up there, putting up with my inane chatter for 4 hrs then driving me home.
  • idle: IRC doesn't have to be just for idle chatter.
  • excited: Back on board the boat the inane incessant excited chatter that follows a superb dive had to be heard to be believed.
  • mindless: Always the same narrow people, the same mindless chatter.
  • noisy: The scenery here tells its own tale - no need for noisy chatter!

Modifying Another Word

  • excitedly: In a tree overhead, a giant black squirrel chattered excitedly at our intrusion.
  • happily: They are quiet vocal and will chatter happily to you and follow you around.
  • away: Soon we were all chattering away like old pals.
  • constantly: The first is in response to a child who constantly chatters.

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.
  • tooth: Days dissolve into weeks, months, old conversations make your teeth chatter to themselves your stomach the only reply for a hundred miles.
  • radio: You write a burst of messages, radio chatter.
  • background: One noticeable change from previous visits however is the background chatter of different languages.

Preposition: of

bird: There wasn't even the usual hum of insects or the chatter of birds.