babble
babble Lexical Profile
babble Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To talk rapidly, continuously, and incoherently or foolishly, or to utter indistinct vocal sounds (especially of an infant).
"The baby began to babble happily whenever her mother entered the room."
To make a continuous, gentle murmuring sound while flowing over stones (of a stream or brook).
"A clear mountain brook babbled over the mossy rocks beside the trail."
To reveal secret or confidential information through careless or excessive talking.
"We warned him not to babble our plans to the competing team."
• noun
The sound of many voices speaking simultaneously or indistinctly, or foolish, confused, and rapid chatter.
"A low babble of excited conversation filled the theater lobby before the curtain rose."
The continuous, gentle murmuring sound of flowing water.
"We pitched our tent beside the stream and fell asleep to the soothing babble of the water."
• Rhymes for babble
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in Middle English as babelen, the word is of imitative origin, mimicking the repetitive lip movements and 'ba-ba' sounds of early infant speech, with close cognates in Middle Low German babbelen and Old French babiller.