babble
[ bab-uhl ]
/ ˈbæb əl /
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verb (used without object), bab·bled, bab·bling.
verb (used with object), bab·bled, bab·bling.
to utter in an incoherent, foolish, or meaningless fashion.
to reveal foolishly or thoughtlessly: to babble a secret.
noun
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of babble
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English babelen; cognate with Old Norse babbla, Dutch babbelen, German pappelen
OTHER WORDS FROM babble
outbabble, verb (used with object), out·bab·bled, out·bab·bling.Words nearby babble
babassu oil, Babbage, babbitt, Babbitt metal, Babbittry, babble, babbler, babbling, babbling brook, Babcock test, babe
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for babble
British Dictionary definitions for babble
babble
/ (ˈbæbəl) /
verb
to utter (words, sounds, etc) in an incoherent or indistinct jumble
(intr) to talk foolishly, incessantly, or irrelevantly
(tr) to disclose (secrets, confidences, etc) carelessly or impulsively
(intr) (of streams, birds, etc) to make a low murmuring or bubbling sound
noun
incoherent or foolish speech; chatter
a murmuring or bubbling sound
Derived forms of babble
babblement, nounbabbling, noun, adjectiveWord Origin for babble
C13: compare Dutch babbelen, Swedish babbla, French babiller to prattle, Latin babulus fool; probably all of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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