to pitter-patter
1
5.8
To make a series of light, quick tapping sounds like rain or small footsteps
- verb
- /ˈpɪtərˌpætər/
:
golpetear
- The children ran outside to play as they heard the rain start to pitter-patter on the pavement.
Examples
-
Emma looks, sees rain start to pitter-patter on the windows.
Fiction book (1998) -
The woman flipped the page; a few nutshells pitter-pattered.
Fiction book (2002) -
I love the sound of the rain as it pitter-patters against the roof.
-
As I walked home, I could hear the leaves pitter-pattering under my feet.
Synonyms
to patter
vsto pitter-patter
5
4.4
To make quick, light sounds like rain or small feet
has the same meaning but is a more playful or emphatic form
to sprinkle
vsto pitter-patter
2
1.0
To rain lightly in small drops
focuses on the quick light sounds those drops make rather than the fall
to spat
vsto pitter-patter
2
6.2
To hit a surface and make quick, sharp sounds like rain
makes lighter, softer rapid sounds rather than sharp impacts
1
2.6
To rain in small light drops
emphasizes the repeated light sounds rather than mere light rainfall
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
pitter-patter infinitive
pitter-pattered past
pitter-pattered past participle
pitter-pattering present participle
pitter-patters third person singular
Morphology
Etymology
Pitter-patter is an echo of the small 'pat' sound, made twice in the parts pitter and patter, like raindrops on a roof. So to pitter-patter is to make a series of light, quick, repeated sounds.