I. ˈchad.ə(r), -atə- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English chatteren, of imitative origin
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to utter rapidly succeeding sounds somewhat like language but inarticulate and indistinct — orig. used of birds
chattering like a flock of blackbirds — Ellen Glasgow
squirrels and chipmunks came to chatter and play about them — Sherwood Anderson
the leaves began to chatter — George Meredith
a tiny stream that chatters and twists through dells and dingles — American Guide Series: Connecticut
b. of a pickup cartridge : to produce unwanted sound acoustically
2. : to talk idly, carelessly, incessantly, or with undue rapidity : jabber
men who followed the sea were always chattering about the ease and security of life in the country — L.C.Douglas
all through the rest of the meal I chattered of the cottage — Adrian Bell
men who are silent are set against men who chatter — Times Literary Supplement
3.
a. : to make the sound of or as if of rapidly repeated noisy contacts (as of the teeth of one who is extremely cold or frightened)
master's teeth chattered with horror — Donn Byrne
chatter like castanets in a Spanish dance
skis will chatter in a turn if they are edged too much — Operations in Snow & Extreme Cold (U.S. War Dept.)
machine guns chattering — Philip Wylie
b. of a cutting tool : to vibrate rapidly in the action of cutting so as to form ridges or nicks
the plane chattered along the edge of the plank
c. : to operate or perform with any irregularity that causes rapid intermittent noise or vibration
the motor chattered in reverse
transitive verb
1. : to utter or speak rapidly, idly, or indistinctly
English is chattered here — Claudia Cassidy
the woman chattered her silly tale
2. dialect England : tear , shatter
3. of a cutting tool : to cut unevenly because of vibration
variation in the thickness of an oil film produces chattered work — New Departure Handbook
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chatere, from chatteren, v.
1. : the action or sound of chattering
the chatter of magpies
the chatter of rivet guns
the chatter of the plane along the wood
the chatter of the worn clutch trying to take hold
2. : idle talk : prattle
my chatter was as gay and sprightly as a bird song — R.P.Warren
the chatter of small voices around him — M.W.Fishwick