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to clatter

to clatter

29 3.9
To make a loud rattling sound by hitting hard things together
  • verb
  • /ˈklætər/
translation icon : traquetear
  • The children laughed as their toys clattered together on the floor.

Examples

  • When I turned my back to wash the dishes, her spoon clattered to the floor.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Kel pushed to his feet, sending his chair to clatter along the floor.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • To her surprise, the spoon clattered against the empty bowl in no time at all.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The heavy silk swished, and the brass rings clattered in the waiting silence.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The silver blade slipped from Thoris's fingers and clattered to the bare floor.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Every day, the 300 Templars clattered out of the Stables of Solomon to train outside the city.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Before Thoris could voice his resolve to Casimir, a great, clattering carriage rumbled around the corner.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Through the laundromat, between the clattering washers and the steamy dryers, she went.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • As he ran down the hallway, his shoes clattered against the wooden floorboards.

  • The pots and pans clattered loudly as she hurried to start dinner.

Synonyms

to bang
vsto clatter
318 1.0

To hit or close something suddenly and loudly

is about repeated loud rattling from many strikes rather than one sudden hit
to rattle
vsto clatter
151 2.2

To shake something so it makes short, sharp noises

is louder and caused by repeated hard strikes not just shaking
to jangle
vsto clatter
13 5.1

To make a harsh ringing sound like keys or coins

is a broader loud rattling from repeated strikes not necessarily discordant
to clack
vsto clatter
5 7.2

To make short, sharp clicking sounds

is louder and fuller and involves prolonged rattling from hard objects
to brattle
vsto clatter
  • Archaic
9.9

A loud rattling sound when metal or hard things hit each other

is broader meaning loud rattling from any hard objects being struck
clanking
vsto clatter
4.9

Making a hard, sharp sound like metal hitting metal

is more general and describes loud rattling from many hard materials
clanging
vsto clatter
4.5

Making a loud ringing sound like metal hitting metal

is a rattling sound without strong ringing resonance after strikes

Antonyms

586 1.0

To speak very quietly using only breath so one person can hear

How Loud

bang
237 1.3
to clang
11 3.5
to clatter
29 3.9
to rattle
151 2.2
to clink
16 5.1
to tinkle
15 3.9

Surface Forms

clatter infinitive
clattered past
clattered past participle
clattering present participle
clatters third person singular

Etymology

Clatter as a verb comes from the same sound word that copies a 'loud, rattling noise', like clack or clank. So to clatter is to make that noisy banging or rattling sound by hitting or moving quickly.