rattle

[ rat-l ]

/ ˈræt l /

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

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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Origin of rattle

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

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. 2023

How to use rattle in a sentence

The company rattled drug retailers with its PillPack acquisition, but Amazon has been slow to integrate the online pharmacy startup into its offerings.
Amazon Pharmacy is live: Shoppers can now order prescriptions directly through the tech giant|Rachel Schallom|November 17, 2020|Fortune
The open hooks that come standard on most are typically the weakest link in that system, and they just dangle there loosely, likely driving the owner crazy with rattles and clanks.
The Best Gift Ideas for 4x4 Enthusiasts|Wes Siler|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
Giegel, for his part, rattles off Midwestern cities like Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Chicago as some of the areas of interest for his company.
The first hyperloop passengers just took a short but important ride|Rob Verger|November 11, 2020|Popular-Science
There was enough saber rattling in the last week about Jim Harbaugh in the wake of a sluggish loss to Michigan State, but now it’s time to ask a serious question.
College football winners and losers for Week 10: Florida is fun again and Georgia is done|Patrick Stevens|November 8, 2020|Washington Post

The robot had finally obeyed, but everyone assumed second place wouldn’t be good enough to advance the team — except Katie, who rattled off the possible combinations of awards and bracket matches that could get the team to regionals.
This AI whiz could be the next Elon Musk or Steve Jobs, but first she has to navigate being 18|Taylor Telford|November 5, 2020|Washington Post
The characters you play on the show are extremely diverse—ranging from a cocaine-rattled rich boy to an ornery Jewish grandpa.
The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll|Abby Haglage|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More fireworks followed the first, and the metal barriers rattled.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In that book, Hoving made many claims that rattled the gatekeepers of the art world.
Are Over Half the Works on the Art Market Really Fakes?|Tom Sykes|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The house shook and the windows rattled—it woke me up,” says Naimas, a Kobani refugee.
Kobani Still Stands Against ISIS and All Odds. But for How Long?|Jamie Dettmer|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This Common Core thing really rattled the governor and she never really recovered it,” says Gaddie.
The Democrats’ Great Plains Firewall: Can Joe Dorman Take the Oklahoma Statehouse?|David Freedlander|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Garnache's sword rasped out, an oath rattled from his clenched teeth, and he fell on guard.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The long dry fingers of the palm trees rattled overhead, and looking up, he saw the divine light of the starry heavens.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Most of us showed signs, I will not say of being rattled, but of having stumbled against a rattlesnake.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
In the narrow seat behind, Clip lurched, and swayed, and rattled the motor-cycles.
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Hofer, who felt it his duty as a good citizen to empty his bottle with the rest of the world on New Year's eve, rattled on.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

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

OTHER WORDS FOR rattle

Origin of 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)