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patter

patter

9 4.0
A quick soft series of light sounds like rain or small feet
  • noun
  • /ˈpætər/
translation icon : golpeteo
  • The rain had stopped during the night, but a steady patter of water fell from the leaves and the roof.
  • pitter-patter

These were his beaches, his sea myrtles in white sand, his patter of the long sea slushes.

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Examples

  • It wasn't long before we heard the pitter-patter of little paws.

  • Suddenly footsteps erupted from outside the door, a rapid patter of small feet.

  • I want to hear the patter of little Feet.

  • Do we hear the patter of tiny feet?

  • This room will be alive again... ...with happy voices and the patter of little feet.

  • And maybe even the pitter-patter of little feet on the floor.

  • We'll have the pitter patter of tiny feet up and down these stairs soon enough.

  • Now that the engines are quieted, I can hear the patter of wind-driven ice striking the canhopper's fuselage.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The children ran around the playground, filling the air with the delightful patter of little feet.

  • As the storm approached, I could hear the patter of raindrops against the window.

Synonyms

chatter
vspatter
34 3.7

A rapid high repeated sound made by small animals or machines

is focused on light tapping sounds rather than vocal or machine noise
pitter
vspatter
8 6.3

A soft, light, repeated sound like rain on a roof

is broader, covering any quick light sounds not only soft ones
to clack
vspatter
5 7.2

To make short, sharp clicking sounds

is lighter and softer, not metallic or loud
pitter-patter
vspatter
3 3.0

A series of light, quick tapping sounds like rain or small footsteps

is the general term for quick light repeated noises
to chitter
vspatter
3 8.0

To make short high noises like a small bird's call

is the wider sound category, not limited to high pitch animal noises
rat-a-tat
vspatter
1 7.6

A quick series of short, sharp taps like knocking or drumbeats

is lighter and softer, not as sharp or forceful
rat-a-tat-tat
vspatter
1 9.0

A series of short, sharp tapping sounds like knocking on a door

is gentler and smaller in force and tone
clip-clop
vspatter
1 5.1

The sound horse hooves make when they hit a hard road in a steady regular beat

is for light small-object sounds, not heavy hoof strikes
clopping
vspatter
1 7.7

A rhythmic sound horse hooves make on a hard surface

is about gentle quick sounds rather than large animal steps
pitty-pat
vspatter
1 9.9

In a light, quick way that sounds like small steps or a heartbeat

is used more broadly for any quick soft sounds
pit-a-pat
vspatter
1 8.9

In a quick, light, repeated way like a small heartbeat

is the neutral term for quick series of light sounds
plinking
vspatter
7.6

A series of short, sharp metal sounds

is similar but describes softer nonmetallic light sounds

Compounds

A series of light, quick tapping sounds like rain or small footsteps

How Loud

to pound
225 1.3
to drum
18 1.3
patter
9 4.0
to tap
174 1.0
tick
34 2.0

Surface Forms

patter singular
patters plural

Etymology

Patter comes from the short sound pat, like a gentle 'pat-pat' made by rain or small feet. So patter means a quick series of light, repeated sounds.