I. ˈprāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English praten, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German pratten to pout, and perhaps to Russian bredit' to talk nonsense, obsolete Polish brzedzić to gossip
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to talk at length and to little purpose : be loquacious : chatter foolishly and without real understanding
prating of responsibility
prated on about his wealth
b. : to speak boastingly or maliciously
2. of an animal : to make a characteristic repetitive sound
the prating of passenger pigeons
transitive verb
: to utter foolishly : babble
what nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate — John Dryden
II. noun
( -s )
: an act of prating : trifling talk : unmeaning or idle loquacity : chatter