clatter

[ klat-er ]

/ ˈklæt ər /

verb (used without object)

to make a loud, rattling sound, as that produced by hard objects striking rapidly one against the other: The shutters clattered in the wind.

to move rapidly with such a sound: The iron-wheeled cart clattered down the street.

to talk fast and noisily; chatter: They clattered on and on about their children.

verb (used with object)

to cause to clatter: clattering the pots and pans in the sink.

noun

a rattling noise or series of rattling noises: The stagecoach made a terrible clatter going over the wooden bridge.

noisy disturbance; din; racket.

noisy talk; din of voices: They had to shout over the clatter at the cocktail party.

idle talk; gossip.

Nearby words

Origin of clatter

before 1050; Middle English clateren, Old English clatr- (in clatrunge); cognate with Dutch klateren to rattle; see -er⁶

Related formsclat·ter·er, nounclat·ter·ing·ly, adverbclat·ter·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for clattering

Within a navy blue duffel bag were clattering bone-hued beads, amulets, and bracelets.
China’s Blood Ivory Bazaar|Brendon Hong|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sound made by clattering plates restores him to a restaurant where dined with his friend killed in the war.
David's Bookclub: Time Regained|David Frum|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Lady Hester tried to call his name, but the clattering noise of the storm drowned the weak effort.
The Daltons, Volume I (of II)|Charles James Lever
The clattering of hoofs sounded behind me, and a horseman rode up alongside.
The Scalp Hunters|Mayne Reid

They watched the first few stragglers pass in dead silence; they heard the clattering confusion yet to pass.
The Web of the Golden Spider|Frederick Orin Bartlett
A clattering of falling spears sounded beyond, but the weapons were overcast, thanks to the protection of the rocky edge.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
A clattering of vast scales rattled out as some body weighing many tons was dragged over rock flooring.
The Red Hell of Jupiter|Paul Ernst

British Dictionary definitions for clattering

clatter

/ (ˈklætə) /

verb

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

(intr) to chatter

noun

a rattling sound or noise

a noisy commotion, such as one caused by loud chatter

Derived Formsclatterer, nounclatteringly, adverbclattery, adjective

Word Origin for clatter

Old English clatrung clattering (gerund); related to Dutch klateren to rattle, German klatschen to smack, Norwegian klattra to knock

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clattering

clatter

late Old English clatrung "clattering, noise," verbal noun implying an Old English *clatrian, of imitative origin. Cf. Middle Dutch klateren, East Frisian klatern, dialectal German klattern. The noun is attested from mid-14c.

clatter

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of clatter

Examples from the Web for clattering

clatter

verb

noun

Word Origin for clatter

clatter