1. The rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
   "The chattering of the sewing machine indicated it needed oiling";
   - chatter
    
2. The high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)
   "The chattering of monkeys filled the jungle";
   - chatter

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: chatterings

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

Encyclopedia: Chattering