chatter

1 of 2

verb

chat·​ter ˈcha-tər How to pronounce chatter (audio)
chattered; chattering; chatters

intransitive verb

1
: to utter rapid short sounds suggestive of language but inarticulate and indistinct
squirrels chattered angrily
2
: to talk idly, incessantly, or fast
3
a
: to click repeatedly or uncontrollably
teeth chattering with cold
b
: to vibrate rapidly in cutting
a chattering tool
c
: to vibrate especially audibly as a consequence of repeated sticking and slipping
chattering brakes

transitive verb

: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly
chatterer noun
chattery adjective

chatter

2 of 2

noun

1
: the action or sound of chattering
2
: idle talk : prattle
3
: electronic and especially radio communication between individuals engaged in a common or related form of activity
also : such chatter regarding future hostile activities
4
: a person who participates in online chat
Excite, Inc. … reports that users log a total of 7.5 to 8 million chat minutes on an average day. Half of online chatters are aged 18 to 34, and 15 percent are under age 17.Rebecca Piirto Heath

Examples of chatter in a Sentence

Verb Children chattered in the middle of the playground. My teeth were chattering from the cold. Birds chattered in the trees. Noun heard the chatter of squirrels pleasant chatter over morning coffee
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
And in Times Square, where a dense orchestra of honking horns, idling motors, chattering tourists, and voluble vendors can push sound levels north of 90 decibels, the song’s unmistakable tinny beat and pogoing piano loop manage to cut through the din. Max Cea, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024 There had been chatter out there that Holland was circling a new Spider-Man movie. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
But, as much as some chatter wants this to be the next Barbeheimer, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024 Despite internet chatter that Friday night's outcome was predetermined, the match was officially sanctioned by Texas regulators. Rob Wile, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chatter 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatteren, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chatter was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near chatter

Cite this Entry

“Chatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chatter. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

chatter

verb
chat·​ter
ˈchat-ər
1
: to utter rapid meaningless sounds suggesting speech
squirrels chattered angrily
2
: to talk idly, continually, or rapidly
3
: to click again and again without control
teeth chattering
chatter noun
chatterer
ˈchat-ər-ər
noun
chattery
-ə-rē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on chatter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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