chattering
10
3.0
- noun
- /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
- 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
28
3.7
A rapid high repeated sound made by small animals or machines
1
8.1
A short high, sharp sound made by small birds or insects
1
9.7
A short high whistling sound made by small birds
Antonyms
How High-Pitched
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.