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prate

[ preyt ]
/ preɪt /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR prate ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

clash, boast, jabber, gabble, clatter, drivel, brag, chat, utter, prattle, tongue, blab, chatter, gab, talk, yack

Nearby words

  1. prasad, rajendra,
  2. prase,
  3. praseodymium,
  4. prat,
  5. pratchett,
  6. pratfall,
  7. pratincole,
  8. pratincolous,
  9. pratique,
  10. prato

Origin of prate

1375–1425; late Middle English praten (v.) < Middle Dutch praeten. See prattle
Related formsprat·er, nounprat·ing·ly, adverbun·prat·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for prating

British Dictionary definitions for prating

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 Formsprater, nounpratingly, adverb

Word Origin for prate

C15: of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch prāten, Icelandic and Norwegian prata, Danish prate
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 prating

prate

v.

early 15c., from or related to Middle Dutch praten "to chatter" (c.1400), from a West Germanic imitative root (cf. East Frisian proten, Middle Low German praten, Middle High German braten, Swedish prata "to talk, chatter"). Related: Prated; prating. As a noun from 1570s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper