noun
chatter
CHA-tuh
noun
1
Talk that goes on and on without saying much of substance.
"The office was full of nervous chatter before the announcement."
"She tuned out the chatter and focused on her work."
2
A rapid, rattling sound, as from vibration or teeth knocking together.
"The chatter of his teeth gave away how cold he was."
"There was a strange chatter coming from the drill as it hit the tile."
verb
1
To talk quickly and casually about unimportant things.
"The kids chattered all the way home from school."
"They chattered about the party for the rest of the afternoon."
2
To rattle or click rapidly, as teeth in the cold or a tool vibrating.
"His teeth chattered as he stood in the icy wind."
How to Use Chatter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFast, light talk (or a fast, rattling sound) — think teeth chattering in the cold or people chattering over coffee.
Common pairings
idle chatter
teeth chatter
nervous chatter
Word Forms
chattered past tense, chatters plural, chatters plural, chatters singular
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Etymology
From Middle English chateren, an imitative word mimicking the sound of rapid, repetitive noise — the same root behind similar words in Dutch and German for chattering.