prattle

American  

[prat-l] / ˈpræt l /

verb (used without object)

prattled, prattling

1. to talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble.

   Synonyms:

   blab, gabble, jabber, gab

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verb (used with object)

prattled, prattling

1. to utter by chattering or babbling.

noun

1. the act of prattling.

2. chatter; babble.

   the prattle of children.

3. a babbling sound.

   the prattle of water rushing over stones.

prattle British  

/ ˈprætəl /

verb

1. (intr) to talk in a foolish or childish way; babble

2. (tr) to utter in a foolish or childish way

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noun

1. foolish or childish talk

Other Word Forms

• prattler
  noun
• prattlingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of prattle

1525–35; < Middle Low German pratelen to chatter, frequentative of praten to prate; see -le

Explanation

To prattle is to go on and on about something unimportant. Some people don't like your constant prattling about your collection of Lego figurines — but you're convinced it's the most fascinating topic on the planet! Prattle can also be a noun. If your little sister won't leave you and your friends alone, you might complain to your parents about her constant prattle. And the constant prattle of the person in the next seat might make it difficult for you to nap on that long airplane trip. There are a lot of funny-sounding words with a meaning similar to prattle: chatter, blether, blather, jabber, gabble, blabber, and babble, to name a few.

Example Sentences

Prattle about theatrical art stirs him to open contempt.

From Time Magazine Archive

Prattle: Thought I'd drop in and see how you were getting on. de Reves: Well, that's splendid.

From Plays of Near & Far by Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Baron

The keenest, most incisive, most telling contemporary criticism was found in the column he used to contribute to the San Francisco Examiner, "Prattle: A Transient Record of Individual Opinion."

From The Scrap Book. Volume 1, No. 2 April 1906 by Various

I ask this second question, after seeing that another periodical publication contains an article with the heading, "Perch Prattle."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 62, Jan 27, 1872 by Various

Prattle: Yes, you always had papers all over your floor. de Reves: Oh, yes—— Prattle: And what are these? de Reves: All these are poems; and this is my altar to Fame.

From Plays of Near & Far by Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, Baron