clatter

American  

[klat-er] / ˈklæt ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to make a loud, rattling sound, as that produced by hard objects striking rapidly one against the other.

   The shutters clattered in the wind.

2. to move rapidly with such a sound.

   The iron-wheeled cart clattered down the street.

3. to talk fast and noisily; chatter.

   They clattered on and on about their children.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to clatter.

   clattering the pots and pans in the sink.

noun

1. a rattling noise or series of rattling noises.

   The stagecoach made a terrible clatter going over the wooden bridge.

2. noisy disturbance; din; racket.

3. noisy talk; din of voices.

   They had to shout over the clatter at the cocktail party.

4. idle talk; gossip.

clatter British  

/ ˈklætə /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a rattling noise, esp as a result of movement

2. (intr) to chatter

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noun

1. a rattling sound or noise

2. a noisy commotion, such as one caused by loud chatter

Other Word Forms

• clatterer
  noun
• clatteringly
  adverb
• clattery
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of clatter

before 1050; Middle English clateren, Old English clatr- (in clatrunge ); cognate with Dutch klateren to rattle; see -er ⁶

Explanation

A clatter is a clacking or rattling sound, like the clatter of horse hooves on pavement or the clatter of toys being thrown down a wooden staircase by an angry child. Clatter is also a verb, meaning "to make a continuous rattling or clanking sound." You might clatter down the school hallway in your clogs, or watch your dogs clatter across a frozen pond, their toenails clicking on the ice. Clatter comes from the Old English onomatopoeic clatrung, "a clattering," or simply "noise."

Example Sentences

Shimmer and Clatter and Howls and Grunts When the New York Philharmonic introduced Contact!, a new and much-needed contemporary-music concert series, in December 2009, the initial thrust was on freshly composed works, largely by Americans.

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2012

The Clatter of the Hospital Room Clasping her chest and struggling to breathe, the small, birdlike woman had landed once again in the hospital for complications of kidney failure.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2012

Clatter and clack, great shuddering moans, groans, creaks, and rattles.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

“Why didn’t you tell me so before, mother? You know I wanted—” Clatter, clatter, clatter!

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Clatter of dishes, say you, and rattle of cups.

From The Lady of Loyalty House A Novel by McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly)

Related Words

• clang
• hurtle