rattle
1to give out or cause a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as in consequence of agitation and repeated concussions: The windows rattled in their frames.
to move or go, especially rapidly, with such sounds: The car rattled along the highway.
to talk rapidly; chatter: He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.
to cause to rattle: He rattled the doorknob violently.
to drive, send, bring, etc., especially rapidly, with rattling sounds: The wind rattled the metal can across the roadway.
to utter or perform in a rapid or lively manner: to rattle off a list of complaints.
to disconcert or confuse (a person): A sudden noise rattled the speaker.
Hunting. to stir up (a cover).
a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.
an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, especially a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.
the series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.
a rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.
Origin of rattle
1Other words for rattle
1 | clatter, knock |
7 | discompose |
9 | clatter; clanging, clanking, clinking |
Words Nearby rattle
Other definitions for rattle (2 of 2)
to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down).
Origin of rattle
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use rattle in a sentence
The wave begins when individual perception of risk starts to shift, when the environmental threat reaches past the least fortunate and rattles the physical and financial security of broader, wealthier parts of the population.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration | by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut | September 15, 2020 | ProPublicaThe scandal tainted the bank’s reputation, led to the exit of Thiam in a power struggle, and rattled Swiss financial circles.
They’ll rattle off their top five goals of the quarter or their individual aspirations, she says.
The deceptively simple exercise that will boost employees’ spirits | Lila MacLellan | August 17, 2020 | QuartzThe law came to life in an era when the United States was rattled by wartime – we entered World War I in 1917 – and worried about radicals.
‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’: Why San Diego Banned ‘Seditious’ Talk in 1918 | Randy Dotinga | August 4, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoApple last month announced two important privacy changes that have rattled the mobile advertising industry.
‘There are significant grey areas’: The biggest unanswered questions around Apple’s upcoming privacy update | Lara O'Reilly | July 24, 2020 | Digiday
But this time I can plainly hear, through the rush of words, the faint rattle of hysteria that bespeaks a screw loose somewhere.
Rather, the hope is to rattle the cages a bit and make sure that the leadership of the Senate reflects the energy in the ranks.
Their hope was to rattle the newcomer, but the incident just embarrassed the incumbent.
Achtung Baby's ironic astringency was a successful reaction to rattle and Hum's gauzy sincerity.
U2 Drops ‘Invisible’ to Remind You the Band Exists | Howard Wolfson | February 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe proceeded to rattle off the names of dozens of notable cast members, urging them to stand for an ovation.
Michael B. Jordan of ‘Fruitvale Station,’ Hollywood’s New Leading Man | Marlow Stern | July 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIt is much more convenient than a lamp, because it doesn't rattle, and you can throw the light on the page so much better.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayHe will rattle on in Spanish till Herr S. gets desperate, and tries to reduce him to order.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayThe nerves of our industrial civilization are worn thin with the rattle of its own machinery.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockThe brazen roar of the cannon is mingled with the intermittent rattle of innumerable machine guns.
Even from where he stood, Kip Burland could hear the rattle of the milk box top.
British Dictionary definitions for rattle (1 of 3)
/ (ˈrætəl) /
to make or cause to make a rapid succession of short sharp sounds, as of loose pellets colliding when shaken in a container
to shake or cause to shake with such a sound: the explosion rattled the windows
to send, move, drive, etc, with such a sound: the car rattled along the country road
(intr foll by on) to chatter idly; talk, esp at length: he rattled on about his work
(tr ; foll by off, out etc) to recite perfunctorily or rapidly
(tr) informal to disconcert; make frightened or anxious
a rapid succession of short sharp sounds
an object, esp a baby's toy, filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken
a series of loosely connected horny segments on the tail of a rattlesnake, vibrated to produce a rattling sound
any of various European scrophulariaceous plants having a capsule in which the seeds rattle, such as Pedicularis palustris (red rattle) and Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)
idle chatter
an idle chatterer
med another name for rale
Origin of rattle
1British Dictionary definitions for rattle (2 of 3)
/ (ˈrætəl) /
(tr often foll by down) to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines
Origin of rattle
2British Dictionary definitions for Rattle (3 of 3)
/ (ˈrætəl) /
Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse