prate
[ preyt ]
/ preɪt /
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verb (used without object), prat·ed, prat·ing.
to talk excessively and pointlessly; babble: They prated on until I was ready to scream.
verb (used with object), prat·ed, prat·ing.
to utter in empty or foolish talk: to prate absurdities with the greatest seriousness.
noun
act of prating.
empty or foolish talk.
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 prate
OTHER WORDS FROM prate
prater, nounprat·ing·ly, adverbun·prat·ing, adjectiveWords nearby prate
Prasad, prase, praseodymium, prat, Pratchett, prate, pratfall, pratincole, pratincolous, pratique, Prato
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for prate
British Dictionary definitions for prate
prate
/ (preɪt) /
verb
(intr) to talk idly and at length; chatter
(tr) to utter in an idle or empty way
noun
idle or trivial talk; prattle; chatter
Derived forms of prate
prater, nounpratingly, adverbWord Origin for prate
C15: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch prāten, Icelandic and Norwegian prata, Danish prate
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