rattle

[ rat-l ]

/ ˈræt l /

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See synonyms for: rattle / rattled / rattling on Thesaurus.com

Definition of rattle

verb (used without object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

to give out or cause a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as in consequence of agitation and repeated concussions: The windows rattled in their frames.

to move or go, especially rapidly, with such sounds: The car rattled along the highway.

to talk rapidly; chatter: He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

to cause to rattle: He rattled the doorknob violently.

to drive, send, bring, etc., especially rapidly, with rattling sounds: The wind rattled the metal can across the roadway.

to utter or perform in a rapid or lively manner: to rattle off a list of complaints.

to disconcert or confuse (a person): A sudden noise rattled the speaker.

Hunting. to stir up (a cover).

noun

a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.

an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, especially a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.

the series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.

a rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.

OTHER WORDS FOR rattle

1 clatter, knock.

7 discompose.

9 clatter; clanging, clanking, clinking.

See synonyms for rattle on Thesaurus.com

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of rattle

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb rat(t)elen, ratlen, cognate with Dutch ratelen, German rasseln ); of imitative origin

Words nearby rattle

ratteen, ratter, rat terrier, Rattigan, rattish, rattle, rattlebox, rattlebrain, rattlebrained, rattle-bush, rattlehead

Other definitions for rattle (2 of 2)

rattle²

[ rat-l ]

/ ˈræt l /

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.Nautical.

to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down).

Origin of rattle

First recorded in 1720–30; back formation from ratlingratline (taken as verbal noun)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use rattle in a sentence

The wave begins when individual perception of risk starts to shift, when the environmental threat reaches past the least fortunate and rattles the physical and financial security of broader, wealthier parts of the population.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration|by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
The scandal tainted the bank’s reputation, led to the exit of Thiam in a power struggle, and rattled Swiss financial circles.
Swiss regulators extend probe into spying at Credit Suisse|kdunn6|September 2, 2020|Fortune
They’ll rattle off their top five goals of the quarter or their individual aspirations, she says.
The deceptively simple exercise that will boost employees’ spirits|Lila MacLellan|August 17, 2020|Quartz
The law came to life in an era when the United States was rattled by wartime – we entered World War I in 1917 – and worried about radicals.
‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’: Why San Diego Banned ‘Seditious’ Talk in 1918|Randy Dotinga|August 4, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Apple last month announced two important privacy changes that have rattled the mobile advertising industry.
‘There are significant grey areas’: The biggest unanswered questions around Apple’s upcoming privacy update|Lara O'Reilly|July 24, 2020|Digiday
But this time I can plainly hear, through the rush of words, the faint rattle of hysteria that bespeaks a screw loose somewhere.
The Stacks: Grateful Dead I Have Known|Ed McClanahan|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rather, the hope is to rattle the cages a bit and make sure that the leadership of the Senate reflects the energy in the ranks.
Will Mitch McConnell Face a Senate Coup?|David Freedlander|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their hope was to rattle the newcomer, but the incident just embarrassed the incumbent.
Michael Grimm’s Unhappily Ever After|David Freedlander|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Achtung Baby's ironic astringency was a successful reaction to Rattle and Hum's gauzy sincerity.
U2 Drops ‘Invisible’ to Remind You the Band Exists|Howard Wolfson|February 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He proceeded to rattle off the names of dozens of notable cast members, urging them to stand for an ovation.
Michael B. Jordan of ‘Fruitvale Station,’ Hollywood’s New Leading Man|Marlow Stern|July 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It is much more convenient than a lamp, because it doesn't rattle, and you can throw the light on the page so much better.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
He will rattle on in Spanish till Herr S. gets desperate, and tries to reduce him to order.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The nerves of our industrial civilization are worn thin with the rattle of its own machinery.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The brazen roar of the cannon is mingled with the intermittent rattle of innumerable machine guns.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 158, April 28, 1920|Various
Even from where he stood, Kip Burland could hear the rattle of the milk box top.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (1 of 3)

rattle¹

/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

to make or cause to make a rapid succession of short sharp sounds, as of loose pellets colliding when shaken in a container

to shake or cause to shake with such a soundthe explosion rattled the windows

to send, move, drive, etc, with such a soundthe car rattled along the country road

(intr foll by on) to chatter idly; talk, esp at lengthhe rattled on about his work

(tr ; foll by off, out etc) to recite perfunctorily or rapidly

(tr) informal to disconcert; make frightened or anxious

noun

a rapid succession of short sharp sounds

an object, esp a baby's toy, filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken

a series of loosely connected horny segments on the tail of a rattlesnake, vibrated to produce a rattling sound

any of various European scrophulariaceous plants having a capsule in which the seeds rattle, such as Pedicularis palustris (red rattle) and Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)

idle chatter

an idle chatterer

med another name for rale

Word Origin for rattle

C14: from Middle Dutch ratelen; related to Middle High German razzen, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (2 of 3)

rattle²

/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

(tr often foll by down) to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines

Word Origin for rattle

C18: back formation from rattling, variant of ratline

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (3 of 3)

Rattle

/ (ˈrætəl) /

noun

Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002

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

rattle

Definition of rattle

OTHER WORDS FOR rattle

Origin of rattle

Words nearby rattle

Other definitions for rattle (2 of 2)

Origin of rattle

Words related to rattle

How to use rattle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (1 of 3)

Word Origin for rattle

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (2 of 3)

Word Origin for rattle

British Dictionary definitions for rattle (3 of 3)