CLATTER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does clatter mean? 

• CLATTER (noun)
  The noun CLATTER has 1 sense:

1. a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)

  Familiarity information: CLATTER used as a noun is very rare.

• CLATTER (verb)
  The verb CLATTER has 1 sense:

1. make a rattling sound

  Familiarity information: CLATTER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLATTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the clatter of iron wheels on cobblestones

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

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

Derivation:

clatter (make a rattling sound)

• CLATTER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they clatter    ... he / she / it clatters   
Past simple: clattered   
Past participle: clattered   
-ing form: clattering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a rattling sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

brattle; clack; clatter

Context example:

clattering dishes

Hypernyms (to "clatter" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

Cars clatter in the streets
The streets clatter with cars

Derivation:

clatter (a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement))

 Context examples 

The refrain of "Work performed," in his own brain, was drowning the other's clatter.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Will you be easy? said the wolf; you’ll awaken everybody in the house if you make such a clatter.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Even as I looked, there came another red flash and another report that sent the echoes clattering, and one more round-shot whistled through the air.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He struck out with his hand, and a revolver which the younger man was in the act of cocking clattered down upon the floor.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Turning his back upon us he laid down his burden, and the next instant there was the sound of a sharp tap, followed by a clatter and rattle.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Next door there appeared to be a children’s party, for the merry buzz of young voices and the clatter of a piano resounded through the night.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The sandalled feet clattered over the wooden floor, and the iron-bound door creaked upon its hinges.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The company was swarming through the door and clattering down the stair, so we followed in the stream.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As they drew near, the cow suddenly gave a kick and kicked over the stool, the pail, and even the milkmaid herself, and all fell on the china ground with a great clatter.

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