Patter Definition

pătər

pattered, pattering, patters

verb

pattered, pattering, patters

To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds.

Rain pattered steadily against the glass.

American Heritage

To make a patter.

Webster's New World

To run or move along so as to make a patter.

Webster's New World

To move with quick, light, softly audible steps.

American Heritage

To speak or mumble rapidly or glibly; recite (prayers, etc.) mechanically or thoughtlessly.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

patters

A series of quick, light taps.

The patter of rain on leaves.

Webster's New World

Language peculiar to a group, class, etc., and not generally understood by outsiders; cant; jargon.

Webster's New World

The glib, rapid speech of salespeople, comedians, magicians, etc.

Webster's New World

Idle, meaningless chatter.

Webster's New World

A person or thing that pats.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Patter

Singular:

patter

Plural:

patters

Circa 1400, from paternoster (“the Lord's prayer"), possibly influenced by imitative sense (above), Latin pater (“father"), from Proto-Indo-European *phâ‚‚tḗr.

From Wiktionary
Middle English pateren shortening and alteration of paternoster paternoster (from the mechanical and rapid recitation of the prayer) paternoster

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
1610s, pat +"Ž -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)"), of (onomatopoeia) origin.

From Wiktionary
Noun attested 1758, originally referring to the cant of thieves and beggers.

From Wiktionary
pat +"Ž -er (“agent")

From Wiktionary
Frequentative of pat

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition