CHATTERING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chattering mean? 

• CHATTERING (noun)
  The noun CHATTERING has 2 senses:

1. the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine

2. the high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)

  Familiarity information: CHATTERING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHATTERING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

chatter; chattering

Hypernyms ("chattering" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

chatter (cut unevenly with a chattering tool)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

chatter; chattering

Hypernyms ("chattering" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

chatter (make noise as if chattering away)

 Context examples 

Off went the flock chattering away; but one fell down dead, and the cloak with it.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

He walked fast, hunted by his fears, chattering to himself, skulking through the less frequented thoroughfares, counting the minutes that still divided him from midnight.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

This ended the saying of the charm, and they heard a great chattering and flapping of wings, as the band of Winged Monkeys flew up to them.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

If I find him conversable, I shall be glad of his acquaintance; but if he is only a chattering coxcomb, he will not occupy much of my time or thoughts.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Sallie Gardiner was absorbed in keeping her white pique dress clean and chattering with the ubiquitous Fred, who kept Beth in constant terror by his pranks.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Don’t you think we’ve gone far enough, Jim?” said I, with my teeth chattering.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For a mile or more the chattering brutes were at our very heels.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And the none-meat horn has blown three times,” quoth Harcomb, as they all streamed in chattering groups from the ground.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It is merely nervousness," she said with chattering teeth.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Mercedes continually fluttered in the way of her men and kept up an unbroken chattering of remonstrance and advice.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)