chattering
- noun
- /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
- During the meeting, the chattering of the printer made it hard to concentrate.
Examples
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The chattering of the gears in the clock signaled it was about to stop working.
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"You move." I started to correct him by saying that I was sitting still until it occurred to me that he meant the chattering of my teeth.
Fiction book (1997) -
He's frozen for a second, his knees knocking, teeth chattering, the works.
Fiction book (1993) -
[police radio chattering]
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(police radio chattering)
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(radio chattering)
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[Distorted chattering on radio]
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(Indistinct chattering)
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(auctioneer chattering)
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The constant chattering of machinery could be heard from the factory next door.
Synonyms
A low steady sound made by machines or many people
A low steady sound like bees or a machine
A soft continuous buzzing sound made by something moving quickly
A series of short, sharp noises like something loose hitting
A low, quiet sound made by people speaking softly or by small movements
A rapid high repeated sound made by small animals or machines
A light regular tapping sound made by a clock or watch
A loud metallic sound that often repeats or echoes
A soft, continuous sound made by something turning or moving fast
A low continuous sound made by voices or nature
Something that is not working well makes short, sharp popping sounds
A low steady sound like bees or a machine running
A low steady buzzing sound made by insects or machines
A soft low sound of many people talking at once
Antonyms
How Noisy
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Chattering comes from the same sound word chatter, which suggests quick, repeated clicks or small noises. Just as teeth can 'chatter' or birds can 'chatter', machines can make the same fast repeating noise, so chattering means a rapid series of noises from moving parts.