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
Verb
Under an avalanche of publicity, students of art, design and social history crowded into the galleries with the limousine society crowd, busloads of tourists and classes of chattering children. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Baboons will sometimes chatter at the moon, or at the sun at dawn. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 Now Ford’s binoculars came to rest on Tobin Rote, Bobby Layne’s backup, who was firing warm-up passes, grinning, chattering with coaches. Bill Morris, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024 Song-tae Kim and 17 of his friends from church chattered boisterously, some fueled by soju, with the remnants of their dinner — black bean noodles and spicy seafood noodle soup — spread out in front of them. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024 The camera often focuses on her face as the adults chatter around her; this is the way of children, sometimes absorbing and struggling with the stuff grownups are saying and other times just ignoring it, taking the world in at their own pace. Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 26 Jan. 2024 As its title suggests, the piece requires two pianos, between which Poulenc creates a playful, chattering dialogue. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2024 My jaw clenched, my breath quickened, my teeth chattered. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024 There was a crackle of energy from the presence of chattering bodies in a room and the warm cacophony of string musicians tuning instruments. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023
Noun
Contrary to some of the glib and conspiratorial chatter online in recent months, the reaction to her diagnosis was widely supportive. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen pulled no punches while hitting out at the social chatter. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 The chatter sounds a lot like adolescents gossiping about who’s dating who. Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 The online chatter about the Princess of Wales, 42, turned into major controversy when the palace released a family photo for Mother's Day in the U.K. on March 10. Maria Mercedes Lara, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Based on the league chatter in Indianapolis, tight end will be a priority for the Panthers at some point this offseason. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 Leaving the close quarters, the Bruin understudies were directed to the stands to watch the varsity workout unfolding with precision from the first day, nonstop chatter from players on the court and a brisk tempo that reignited Walton. Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Indeed, Bakish nodded in his prepared remarks to the endless chatter on the Street and in media about Paramount’s long-term fate. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 The Charter chief was also decidedly coy when asked about Wall Street chatter around his company considering a takeover of rival cable TV operator Altice USA. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chatter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 28 Mar. 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

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