chatter

American  

[chat-er] / ˈtʃæt ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to talk rapidly in a foolish or purposeless way; jabber.

2. to utter a succession of quick, inarticulate, speechlike sounds, as monkeys or certain birds.

   Synonyms:

   click, clatter

3. to make a rapid clicking noise by striking together.

   His teeth were chattering from the cold.

4. Machinery. (of a cutting tool or piece of metal) to vibrate during cutting so as to produce surface flaws on the work.

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter rapidly or purposelessly.

2. to cause to chatter, as the teeth from cold.

noun

1. purposeless or foolish talk.

2. a series of waves or ridges on the surface of a piece of metal that has been imperfectly drawn or extruded.

3. the act or sound of chattering.

4. online, phone, radio, or other electronic communication among people, often involving a harmful political activity such as espionage or terrorism.

   Officials were able to intercept and identify a high level of terrorist chatter in the weeks before the bombing attempt.

chatter British  

/ ˈtʃætə /

verb

1. to speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly; prattle

2. (intr) (of birds, monkeys, etc) to make rapid repetitive high-pitched noises resembling human speech

3. (intr) (of the teeth) to click together rapidly through cold or fear

4. (intr) to make rapid intermittent contact with a component, as in machining, causing irregular cutting

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noun

1. idle or foolish talk; gossip

2. the high-pitched repetitive noise made by a bird, monkey, etc

3. the rattling of objects, such as parts of a machine

4. Also called: chatter mark.  the undulating pattern of marks in a machined surface from the vibration of the tool or workpiece

Other Word Forms

• chatteringly adverb
• chattery adjective
• outchatter verb (used with object)
• unchattering adjective

Etymology

Origin of chatter

1200–50; Middle English chateren; imitative

Example Sentences

Once the Fed decision is done, market chatter will begin about the so-called Santa Rally that usually happens through the end of the year.

From Barron's

Part of the Suns’ postgame chatter in the locker room had nothing to do with beating the Nuggets.

From Washington Times

For a decade, Twitter was the premier watering hole for the chattering classes.

From Los Angeles Times

Much of the chatter on far-right channels appeared to be an effort to vent or prognosticate, rather than attempt any coordinated effort.

From New York Times

The three chatter over many, many glasses of wine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• babble
• blather
• chat
• chitchat
• gossip