Chatter
/ˈtʃætər/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo talk quickly and continuously, often about unimportant things.
/ˈtʃætər/
To talk rapidly or incessantly
The monkeys chattered loudly in the trees.
💡 Simply: Chattering is like a fast-paced, noisy conversation, like birds chirping or kids talking excitedly about their toys.
👶 For kids: Talking really fast and a lot!
More Examples
The students chattered after the exam.
How It's Used
"The children chattered excitedly about their trip to the zoo."
"The guests chattered amongst themselves during the cocktail hour."
A continuous stream of rapid, often meaningless talk.
/ˈtʃætər/
Rapid, inconsequential talk
I couldn't hear the speaker over the chatter of the crowd.
💡 Simply: Chatter is like the sound of many people talking at once, a bit like a busy playground.
👶 For kids: Lots of people talking at the same time.
More Examples
The birds' chatter filled the morning air.
How It's Used
"The room was filled with the chatter of excited voices."
Idioms & expressions
chatter away
To talk continuously and enthusiastically.
"She chatted away happily on the phone."
From Middle English *chateren, from Old French *chacier (to chase, to hunt), imitative of bird sounds.
Historically, 'chatter' has been used to describe both human speech and the sounds of animals, reflecting its imitative origin.
Memory tip
Imagine a group of monkeys chattering in the trees – noisy and fast-paced.