(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If something ~s on a surface, it hits it quickly several times, making quiet, tapping sounds.
Rain ~ed gently outside, dripping on to the roof from the pines.
VERB: V adv/prep
2.
A ~ is a series of quick, quiet, tapping sounds.
...the ~ of the driving rain on the roof.
N-SING: oft the N of n
3.
Someone’s ~ is a series of things that they say quickly and easily, usually in order to entertain people or to persuade them to buy or do something.
Fran began her automatic ~ about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
N-SING: usu poss N