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Noun: chatter  cha-tu(r)
  1. Rapid, continuous, and often trivial talk or communication
    "The constant yakety-chatter from the next room made it hard to concentrate";
    - yak [informal], yack [informal], yakety-yak [informal], yackety-yak [informal], yatter [informal]
     
  2. The rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
    "The chatter of the sewing machine indicated it needed oiling";
    - chattering
     
  3. The high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)
    "The chatter of monkeys filled the jungle";
    - chattering
Verb: chatter  cha-tu(r)
  1. Make a clicking sound repeatedly or uncontrollably
    "Chattering teeth";
    - click
     
  2. Cut unevenly with a chattering tool
    "The faulty machine chattered the edge of the metal sheet"
     
  3. Talk socially without exchanging too much information
    "the men were sitting in the cafe and chattering";
    - chew the fat [informal], shoot the breeze [N. Amer, informal], chat, confabulate, confab [informal], chitchat [informal], chit-chat [informal], chaffer, natter [informal], gossip, jaw [informal], claver [UK, dialect], visit [N. Amer, informal], gas [informal], chew the rag [informal], gab [informal], chinwag [Brit, informal]
     
  4. Speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
    "The old man chattered on about the weather";
    - piffle [informal], palaver [informal], prate, tittle-tattle, twaddle [informal], clack [informal], maunder, prattle, blab [informal], gibber, tattle, blabber [informal], gabble, vapour [Brit, Cdn], vapor [US], rabbit [Brit, informal], jibber-jabber, witter [Brit, informal], twattle [UK, dialect], yatter [Brit, informal], yabber [informal]
     
  5. Make noise as if chattering away
    "The magpies were chattering in the trees"

Derived forms: chatters, chattering, chattered

Type of: converse, cut, discourse, go, mouth, noise, sound, speak, talk, talking, utter, verbalise [Brit], verbalize

Encyclopedia: Chatter