chatter

1 of 2

verb

chat·​ter ˈcha-tər 

chattered; chattering; chatters

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly

chatterer noun

chattery

ˈcha-tə-rē 

adjective

chatter

2 of 2

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

Synonyms

Verb

• babble
• blab
• cackle
• chaffer [British]
• chat
• chin [slang]
• converse
• gab
• gabble
• gas
• jabber
• jaw
• kibitz
• kibbitz
• natter
• palaver
• patter
• prate
• prattle
• rap
• rattle
• run on
• schmooze
• shmooze
• talk
• twitter
• visit

Noun

• backchat
• cackle
• causerie
• chat
• chin music
• chin-wag [slang]
• chitchat
• confab
• confabulation
• gab
• gabfest
• gossip
• jangle
• jaw
• natter [chiefly British]
• palaver
• patter
• rap
• schmooze
• small talk
• table talk
• talk
• tête-à-tête

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

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

Close losses have been the bane of their season so far, but games like Wednesday’s can help with stacking wins and quelling trade chatter, even if for just another day. —James Jackson, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025

Natural light plus background chatter plus the smell of coffee equals better stories for you. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chatteren, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chatter

• chatter mark

Kids Definition

chatter

verb

chat·​ter

ˈchat-ər

1

: to utter rapid meaningless sounds suggesting speech

squirrels chattered angrily

2

: to talk idly, continually, or rapidly

3

: to click again and again without control

teeth chattering

chatter noun

chatterer

ˈchat-ər-ər

noun

chattery

-ə-rē

adjective