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chattering

chattering

40 3.0
A high, continuous noise birds or monkeys make
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
translation icon : gorjeo
  • Only the chattering of the monkeys in the trees.
  • chattering of monkeys
  • excited chattering
  • soft chattering

Examples

  • One can still distinctly hear their cheerful chattering voices, delighted to hear reports, savoring the sumptuous details.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Instead, I heard a soft chattering, still distant.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The parrot had lost its British accent and was instead chattering away in Spanish.

  • Raven watched the river move in the moonlight and listened to the constant chattering of insects.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The impossibly loud cries of exotic birds, the chattering of monkeys.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The only sound now was silence, dimpled here and there by shouted encouragements and the chattering of the monkey hidden in the crowd.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Overhead, flights of snow geese, ducks, and chattering ravens passed in a whir of wings.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Throngs of chattering and expectant women crowd the football, cricket, and jai alai stadia of the world.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Songs consist of a mixture of mimicry, clicks, wheezes, chattering, whistles, rattles, and piping notes.

    Blog text (30)
  • The good-natured chattering continued in the living room as the friends caught up over coffee.

Synonyms

chatter
vschattering
34 3.7

A rapid high repeated sound made by small animals or machines

is a steady continuous high-pitched noise rather than short repeated sounds
chirrup
vschattering
1 8.1

A short high, sharp sound made by small birds or insects

is longer and more continuous rather than brief sharp notes
wheep
vschattering
9.7

A short high whistling sound made by small birds

is a steady high-pitched noise rather than a single whistled tone

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

How High-Pitched

screeching
58 3.3
squeaking
3.1
chattering
40 3.0
to chitter
3 8.0
chirp
18 1.6
twitter
1 3.9

Surface Forms

chattering singular
chatterings plural

Morphology

chattering = chatter (transparent) = chatter + ing

A regular -ing nominalization/gerund of the verb 'chatter' denoting the sound or activity; learners who know 'chatter' can infer this meaning.

Etymology

Chattering comes from the simple word chatter, which copies the quick 'ch' sounds that birds and small animals make. A helpful image is many tiny voices or beaks making fast, high notes, so chattering means a high, continuous noise like the sound of birds or monkeys.