babble

American  

[bab-uhl] / ˈbæb əl /

verb (used without object)

babbled, babbling

1. to utter sounds or words imperfectly, indistinctly, or without meaning.

2. to talk idly, irrationally, excessively, or foolishly; chatter or prattle.

   Synonyms:

   blather, drivel, gabble, chitchat

3. to make a continuous, murmuring sound.

   Synonyms:

   burble, gurgle, murmur

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verb (used with object)

babbled, babbling

1. to utter in an incoherent, foolish, or meaningless fashion.

2. to reveal foolishly or thoughtlessly.

   to babble a secret.

noun

1. inarticulate or imperfect speech.

2. foolish, meaningless, or incoherent speech; prattle.

3. a murmuring sound or a confusion of sounds.

4. babbling.

5. Telecommunications. a confused mixture of extraneous sounds in a circuit, resulting from cross talk from other channels.

babble British  

/ ˈbæbəl /

verb

1. to utter (words, sounds, etc) in an incoherent or indistinct jumble

2. (intr) to talk foolishly, incessantly, or irrelevantly

3. (tr) to disclose (secrets, confidences, etc) carelessly or impulsively

4. (intr) (of streams, birds, etc) to make a low murmuring or bubbling sound

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noun

1. incoherent or foolish speech; chatter

2. a murmuring or bubbling sound

Other Word Forms

• babblement noun
• babbling noun
• outbabble verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of babble

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English babelen; cognate with Old Norse babbla, Dutch babbelen, German pappelen

Example Sentences

The mogul ended up apologizing for that babble, calling it the “dumbest post I’ve ever done.”

From Los Angeles Times

I heard the babble of what must have been a small stream, and in the faint moonlight I could see Mr. Drysdale standing right at the water’s edge.

From Literature

He babbled in a mix of languages and pounded his fists on the nursery wall until the plaster threatened to crack.

From Literature

Madame Pyrénées, the geography teacher, babbled excitedly in French and then embraced Penelope and the children in turn until she was breathless from planting multiple kisses on each cheek.

From Literature

She resumed her excited babble as she tore open the invitation.

From Literature

Related Words

• blubber
• burble
• mumble
• murmur
• mutter