chattered; chattering; chatters
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
: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly
chatterer
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
Rebecca Piirto HeathSynonyms
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
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In addition, the award-winning and emerging writers were asked to include three of eight items in each story: a shovel, the name Sandi, an undertaker, a Minnesota Twins baseball cap, chattering teeth, whistling, smoke and a mousetrap.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2024
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
The compressed size of the court and the smaller arena mean players — and fans — will be able to hear much more on-court chatter.
—Remy Tumin, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chatter 
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Verb
Dozens of schoolmates chattered happily under the pines, kicking a soccer ball on sun-streaked grass, climbing a play structure and scarfing down pizza.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In addition, the award-winning and emerging writers were asked to include three of eight items in each story: a shovel, the name Sandi, an undertaker, a Minnesota Twins baseball cap, chattering teeth, whistling, smoke and a mousetrap.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
Using Cell Phones with Reckless Abandon While the ballpark is filled with cheers and chatter, nobody wants to be seated next to the person who’s loudly carrying on a phone conversation in the middle of it—or have to dodge the hundredth selfie snapped by the person in front of them.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
The compressed size of the court and the smaller arena mean players — and fans — will be able to hear much more on-court chatter.
—Remy Tumin, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chatter
Articles Related to chatter
Dictionary Entries Near chatter
Cite this Entry
“Chatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chatter. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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