chatter
chatter Lexical Profile
chatter Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Informal, rapid, or trivial talk about unimportant matters.
"The lively chatter of students filled the school hallway before the morning bell rang."
A series of short, quick, high-pitched sounds made by certain animals or birds, or a rapid rattling sound made by teeth or machinery.
"We could hear the excited chatter of squirrels high up in the oak canopy."
Intercepted communications or general discussion monitored by intelligence agencies or across media networks regarding a particular topic or potential threat.
"Analysts noticed a sudden spike in online chatter regarding the upcoming corporate merger."
• verb
To talk informally, rapidly, or incessantly about trivial matters.
"The children chattered excitedly on the bus ride to the natural history museum."
To click together rapidly and repeatedly from cold or fear (of a person's teeth), or to vibrate rapidly during operation (of a machine part or cutting tool).
"Standing at the windy bus stop without a coat, his teeth began to chatter uncontrollably."
To make a series of quick, high-pitched, repetitive vocal sounds (especially of birds, monkeys, or squirrels).
"A group of macaques chattered loudly from the branches above the forest trail."
• Rhymes for chatter
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originating in Middle English as 'chateren', the word is of imitative origin, formed to mimic rapid, repetitive vocal or mechanical sounds.