babble

bab·ble

verb \ˈba-bəl\

bab·bledbab·bling\-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of BABBLE

intransitive verb

1

a : to talk enthusiastically or excessively b : to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds

2

: to make sounds as though babbling

transitive verb

1

: to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner

2

: to reveal by talk that is too free

— babble noun

— bab·ble·ment \-bəl-mənt\ noun

— bab·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of BABBLE

1. Pay no attention to her. She's just babbling.
2. He'll babble on about sports all night if you let him.
3. Her cousins were babbling in an unfamiliar dialect.

Origin of BABBLE

Middle English babelen, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BABBLE

Synonyms: bumble, chat, chatter, drivel, drool, gabble, gibber, jabber, prattle, sputter

Related Words: blabber, blather, bleat, blither, gab, jangle, jaw, patter, prate, rattle, run on, smatter, tittle-tattle, troll, yak (also yack); chunter [British], maunder, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter; stammer, stutter; screech, shout, shriek

Near Antonyms: articulate, enunciate, pronounce

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BABBLE

brabble, dabble, gabble, grabble, habile, rabble, scrabble