chatter

/'tʃætə/
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chatter

The magpies were chattering in the trees.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • Rapid, continuous, and often high-pitched sound: This refers to the quick, repetitive noise made by animals, such as birds or monkeys.
    • Rapid series of mechanical noises: This describes the fast, repetitive clicking or rattling sounds produced by parts of a machine.
    • Idle, rapid, or trivial talk: This signifies fast, continuous, and often unimportant conversation.

  2. Verb:

    • To make rapid, continuous sounds: To produce a series of quick, short noises, like an animal or a machine.
    • To talk rapidly, incessantly, or trivially: To speak quickly and continuously about unimportant matters.
    • To talk socially in a light, informal way: To engage in casual, relaxed conversation.
    • To click or rattle repeatedly: For objects, like teeth, to knock together rapidly and uncontrollably.
Examples of Usage

  • Noun:

    • The chatter of squirrels in the trees was a constant background noise.
    • The constant chatter of the old printer was annoying.
    • I couldn't concentrate with all the office chatter.

  • Verb:

    • Monkeys were chattering loudly in the canopy.
    • She would chatter on the phone for hours about nothing in particular.
    • We spent the afternoon just chattering over coffee.
    • His teeth were chattering from the cold.
Advanced Usage

  • "Shoot the breeze": To engage in casual, relaxed conversation or chatter.

    • We weren't discussing anything important, just shooting the breeze.

  • "Chattering classes": A sometimes critical term for people, especially in the media and academia, who are perceived as talking a lot about politics and society.

    • The policy was widely debated among the chattering classes.
Variants and Related Words
  • Chatterer (n): A person who chatters.
  • Chatterbox (n): An informal term for a person, especially a child, who talks incessantly.
  • Chit-chat (n/v): Light, informal conversation; to engage in such talk. This is a close synonym for the conversational sense of "chatter."
Synonyms
  • Babble: To talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.
  • Prate: To talk foolishly or at tedious length.
  • Jabber: To talk rapidly and excitedly but with little sense.
  • Patter: Rapid, continuous, and often rhythmic speech or sound.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Chatter" is not commonly used with particles to form distinct phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically conveyed alone or with prepositions like "on" or "away.") - Chatter on/away: To continue talking rapidly and at length. - She just chattered away about her holiday plans.

Related Idioms

  • Chatter like a magpie: To talk incessantly and noisily.

    • Once she gets started, she chatters like a magpie.

  • Cut the chatter: An imperative to stop talking, especially idle talk.

    • Alright everyone, cut the chatter and let's get to work.
chatter

The magpies were chattering in the trees.

Noun
  1. the high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)
  2. the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
  3. noisy talk
Verb
  1. make noise as if chattering away
    • The magpies were chattering in the trees
  2. speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
  3. talk socially without exchanging too much information
    • the men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze
  4. cut unevenly with a chattering tool
  5. click repeatedly or uncontrollably
    • Chattering teeth

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