The meaning of Patter

verb

Talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.

Usage examples:

They babbled on about their holiday

noun

(of a flowing water) make a continuous murmuring sound.

Usage examples:

The shallow river babbled over smooth rocks

combining form

Forming nouns denoting confusing or pretentious jargon, especially that characteristic of a particular field or group.

Usage examples:

Psychobabble

verb

Strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip.

Usage examples:

If we were caught we were beaten

noun

A main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry.

Usage examples:

The glissando begins on the second beat

adjective

Short for beatnik.

noun

A punishment or assault in which the victim is hit repeatedly.

Usage examples:

If he got dirt on his clothes he'd get a beating

verb

Strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip.

Usage examples:

If we were caught we were beaten

noun

The act of hitting someone hard and repeatedly

Usage examples:

He escaped a beating., fig. this chair has taken a beating over the years (= been used often and da…

verb

Argue about petty and trivial matters.

Usage examples:

Couples who bicker over who gets what from the divorce

verb

To argue about unimportant matters

Usage examples:

They were bickering over what to order and where to sit.

verb

Talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense.

Usage examples:

She began blathering on about spirituality and life after death

noun

Long-winded talk with no real substance.

Usage examples:

All the blather coming out of washington about crime

verb

Talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense.

Usage examples:

There's plenty of stuff i could blether about from today

noun

Long-winded talk with no real substance.

Usage examples:

Some stupid blether about puns surrounding the beatles

noun

→  blather informal

verb

Talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense.

Usage examples:

I won't blither on too much about the job itself

noun

Long-winded talk with no real substance.

adjective

Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.

Usage examples:

A blithe disregard for the rules of the road

verb

Talk informally about unimportant matters.

Usage examples:

She was chattering about her holiday

noun

Informal talk.

Usage examples:

He was full of inconsequential but amusing chatter

verb

To talk continuously and usually for no serious purpose

Usage examples:

The boys and girls kept chattering during the movie., birds chattered in the trees., the printer wa…

verb

Talk or grumble monotonously.

Usage examples:

She chuntered on about her problems

verb

To complain, especially in a low voice

Usage examples:

Al was chuntering (on) about being the last to know what was happening.

verb

Talk or grumble monotonously.

Usage examples:

She chuntered on about her problems

verb

Present participle of chunter

Usage examples:

Al was chuntering (on) about being the last to know what was happening.

verb

Make a sharp sound or series of sounds as a result of a hard object striking another.

Usage examples:

He heard the sound of her heels clacking across flagstones

noun

A sharp sound or series of sounds.

Usage examples:

The clack of her high heels

noun

A short sound made when two hard objects hit

Usage examples:

Her shoes clacked on the tile floor.

verb

Make a series of sharp sounds as a result of a hard object striking another.

Usage examples:

The tranquil clacketing of the train

noun

A continuous rattling sound as of hard objects falling or striking each other.

Usage examples:

The horse spun round with a clatter of hooves

verb

Make or cause to make a continuous rattling sound.

Usage examples:

Her coffee cup clattered in the saucer

verb

To make loud noises, or to hit hard objects against each other

Usage examples:

[ t ] don’t clatter the pots and pans – you’ll wake the baby up., she could hear the clatter of hor…

noun

Nonsense.

Usage examples:

Don't talk such drivel!

verb

Talk nonsense.

Usage examples:

He was drivelling on about the glory days

noun

Something written or said that is completely worthless; nonsense

Usage examples:

The papers are filled with drivel about movie stars.

noun

A percussion instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped, with a taut membrane over one or both ends.

Usage examples:

A shuffling dance to the beat of a drum

verb

Play on a drum or drums.

Usage examples:

He channelled his energies into drumming with local groups

noun

A long, narrow hill, especially one separating two parallel valleys.

noun

A stroke or pattern of strokes on a drum.

Usage examples:

She was aware of a constant, faint drumbeat

noun

(the sound of) a single hit on a drum

noun

The action of playing a drum or drums.

Usage examples:

He took up drumming in his teens

verb

Play on a drum or drums.

Usage examples:

He channelled his energies into drumming with local groups

noun

A musical instrument, usually with a skin stretched over the end of a hollow tube or bowl, played by hitting with the hand or a stick

Usage examples:

An oil drum, the rain drummed on the tin roof.

verb

Talk at length, typically about trivial matters.

Usage examples:

Franny walked past a woman gabbing on the phone

noun

Talk; chatter.

Usage examples:

Fans should prefer her smooth delivery to the gab prevalent around the league

verb

To talk continuously and eagerly, esp. about unimportant matters

Usage examples:

The two of us were always gabbing away., along with his gift for gab, he has a great grasp of human…

verb

Talk rapidly and unintelligibly.

Usage examples:

He gabbled on in a panicky way until he was dismissed

noun

Rapid unintelligible talk.

Usage examples:

She wasn't very good at the random gabble of teenagers

verb

To speak quickly and not clearly so that it is difficult to understand

Usage examples:

Gabble away she started gabbling away at me in spanish and i didn't understand a word., gina, as us…

verb

Talk in a rapid, excited, and often incomprehensible way.

Usage examples:

He jabbered on about football

noun

Rapid, excited, and often incomprehensible speech.

Usage examples:

Now, if you're going to fight me, stop the jibber jabber and let's get started!

verb

To speak or say something quickly in a way that is difficult to understand

Usage examples:

Jay was jabbering on about this and that.

noun

A magazine (periodical).

Usage examples:

The bestselling rock mag in britain

verb

Chatter incessantly.

Usage examples:

My sister sent me a photograph of her and her baby - none of her old man - standing outside their n…

noun

A gossip or chat.

Usage examples:

To the joy of jewellers and couturiers, gossip mags and fans, justin timberlake and cameron diaz al…

noun

A long speech by one actor in a play or film, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast programme.

Usage examples:

He was reciting some of the great monologues of shakespeare

noun

A long speech by one person, esp. in a play, movie, or television show

verb

Talk casually, especially on unimportant matters; chat.

Usage examples:

They nattered away for hours

noun

A casual and leisurely conversation.

Usage examples:

I could do with a drink and a natter

verb

To talk continuously for a long time without any particular purpose

Usage examples:

Once he starts nattering you just can't stop him., my mother and her friends natter away on the pho…

verb

Make a repeated light tapping sound.

Usage examples:

A flurry of rain pattered against the window

verb

Talk at length without saying anything significant.

Usage examples:

She pattered on incessantly

noun

A repeated light tapping.

Usage examples:

The plashing patter of steady rain

noun

A series of quick, light knocking sounds

Usage examples:

I heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet (= the noise of children running)., the rain pitter-pattered…

noun

A unit of weight equal to 16 oz. avoirdupois (0.4536 kg), or 12 oz. troy (0.3732 kg).

Usage examples:

A short ton is the standard u.s. ton of 2,000 pounds and measures weight.

verb

Strike or hit heavily and repeatedly.

Usage examples:

Patrick pounded the couch with his fists

verb

Shut (an animal) in a pound.

noun

Repeated and heavy striking or hitting of someone or something.

Usage examples:

The pounding of the surf on a sandy beach

verb

Strike or hit heavily and repeatedly.

Usage examples:

Patrick pounded the couch with his fists

verb

Shut (an animal) in a pound.

verb

Talk foolishly or at tedious length about something.

Usage examples:

I heard him prate on for at least an hour and a half

verb

To talk stupidly, or about things that are not important, for a long time

Usage examples:

Inevitably there's some caller prating on about the decline in moral standards.

verb

Talk foolishly or at tedious length about something.

Usage examples:

I heard him prate on for at least an hour and a half

verb

Present participle of prate

Usage examples:

Inevitably there's some caller prating on about the decline in moral standards.

verb

Talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.

Usage examples:

She began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist

noun

Foolish or inconsequential talk.

Usage examples:

Do you intend to keep up this childish prattle?

verb

To talk in a silly way or like a child for a long time about things that are not important or without saying anything important

Usage examples:

She'd have prattled on about her new job for the whole afternoon if i'd let her., stop your prattli…

verb

Expand and contract with strong regular movements.

Usage examples:

Blood vessels throb and pulsate

verb

To make sounds or movements with a regular rhythm

Usage examples:

A light pulsates in the distance.

noun

The action of moving with a strong, regular rhythm

Usage examples:

The star's pulsations cause it to brighten and dim every six minutes., every blink of an eye or pul…

noun

A gregarious burrowing plant-eating mammal, with long ears, long hind legs, and a short tail.

Usage examples:

The chances of survival for south africa's most endangered mammal, the riverine rabbit, looks even …

verb

Hunt rabbits.

Usage examples:

Locate the area where you can go rabbiting

noun

A small animal with long ears and a short tail, that lives in holes in the ground

verb

Hunt rabbits.

Usage examples:

Locate the area where you can go rabbiting

noun

A gregarious burrowing plant-eating mammal, with long ears, long hind legs, and a short tail.

Usage examples:

The chances of survival for south africa's most endangered mammal, the riverine rabbit, looks even …

noun

A conversation.

Usage examples:

We had quite a heated rabbit about it

verb

Walk for pleasure in the countryside.

Usage examples:

I spent most of my spare time rambling and climbing

noun

A walk taken for pleasure in the countryside.

Usage examples:

Based at 18 excellent country houses, they have a wide choice of walks from gentle rambles to adven…

verb

To walk for pleasure, esp. in the countryside

Usage examples:

I love to ramble through the woods., it was hard to listen to her ramble on and on about her vacati…

verb

Make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds.

Usage examples:

The roof rattled with little gusts of wind

noun

A rapid succession of short, sharp, sounds.

Usage examples:

The rattle of teacups on the tray

verb

Make a series of short, loud sounds

noun

A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.

Usage examples:

She turned the cold tap on

verb

Draw liquid through the tap or spout of (a cask, barrel, or other container).

Usage examples:

Several barrels had been tapped to celebrate old victories

noun

A quick light blow, or the sound of such a blow.

Usage examples:

There was a sharp tap at the door

noun

The action of striking against something with a quick light blow or blows, or a sound made in this way.

Usage examples:

Crews heard tapping from deep underground

noun

An electrical connection made to some point between the end terminals of a transformer coil or other component.

verb

A device by which a flow of liquid or gas from a pipe or container can be controlled.

Usage examples:

She turned the cold tap on

noun

An evening drum or bugle signal recalling soldiers to their quarters.

Usage examples:

A military tattoo takes place with clockwork precision

verb

Mark (a part of the body) with an indelible design by inserting pigment into punctures in the skin.

Usage examples:

His cheek was tattooed with a winged fist

noun

A design made by tattooing.

Usage examples:

They were muscle-bound men covered in scars and tattoos

verb

Beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsate steadily.

Usage examples:

The war drums throbbed

noun

A strong, regular beat or sound; a steady pulsation.

Usage examples:

The throb of the ship's engines

verb

To produce a regular, forceful beat

Usage examples:

His head throbbed with pain., [ u ] we could feel the throb of the music from the party upstairs.

verb

Make a continuous rhythmic humming sound.

Usage examples:

The boat's huge engines thrummed in his ears

noun

A continuous rhythmic humming sound.

Usage examples:

The steady thrum of rain on the windows

verb

Cover or adorn (cloth or clothing) with ends of thread.

Usage examples:

The red sash of royalty is made of net work, and thrummed with red and yellow feathers.

verb

Make a continuous rhythmic humming sound.

Usage examples:

The boat's huge engines thrummed in his ears

verb

Cover or adorn (cloth or clothing) with ends of thread.

Usage examples:

The red sash of royalty is made of net work, and thrummed with red and yellow feathers.

noun

A continuous rhythmic humming sound.

Usage examples:

The steady thrum of rain on the windows

noun

Trivial or foolish speech or writing; nonsense.

Usage examples:

He dismissed the novel as self-indulgent twaddle

verb

Talk or write in a trivial or foolish way.

Usage examples:

What is that old fellow twaddling about?

noun

Speech or writing that is silly or not true

Usage examples:

She dismissed the findings as utter twaddle/a load of old twaddle.

verb

Speak or write at length in a vague or trivial manner.

Usage examples:

He waffled on about his problems

noun

Lengthy but vague or trivial talk or writing.

Usage examples:

We've edited out some of the waffle

adjective

Denoting a style of fine honeycomb weaving or a fabric woven to give a honeycomb effect.

Usage examples:

The waffle material is really lightweight, but does an excellent job of keeping you warm!

verb

Speak at length about trivial matters.

Usage examples:

She'd been wittering on about jennifer and her illness

verb

To talk for a long time about things that are not important

Usage examples:

He'd been wittering on about his neighbours for half the morning.

verb

Speak at length about trivial matters.

Usage examples:

She'd been wittering on about jennifer and her illness

verb

Present participle of witter

Usage examples:

He'd been wittering on about his neighbours for half the morning.

verb

Chatter.

Usage examples:

What's he yabbering about?

verb

Chatter.

Usage examples:

What's he yabbering about?

noun

A large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide.

Usage examples:

Milk products were common in the form of sour cream and butter from cows and yaks.

verb

Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects.

Usage examples:

She wondered what he was yakking about

noun

A type of cattle with long hair and long horns, found mainly in tibet

verb

Talk incessantly; chatter.

Usage examples:

Dear old betty was yattering at me on sunday

noun

Incessant talk.

Usage examples:

There is no place like home for random yatter