chatter

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English

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Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English chateren, from earlier cheteren, chiteren (“to twitter, chatter, jabber”), of imitative origin. Compare Dutch schateren (“chatter”), schetteren, Dutch koeteren (“jabber”), dialectal German kaudern (“to gobble (like a turkey)”), Danish kvidre (“to twitter, chirp”).

Noun

chatter (uncountable)

  1. Talk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk.
  2. The sound of talking.
  3. The sound made by a magpie.
  4. An intermittent noise, as from vibration.
    Proper brake adjustment will help to reduce the chatter.
  5. In national security, the degree of communication between suspect groups and individuals, used to gauge the degree of expected terrorist activity.
    The NSA is concerned about increased chatter between known terror groups.
Synonyms
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

chatter (third-person singular simple present chatters, present participle chattering, simple past and past participle chattered)

  1. (intransitive) To talk idly.
    They knitted and chattered the whole time.
    • (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue.
  2. (intransitive) Of teeth, machinery, etc, to make a noise by rapid collisions.
    He was so cold that his teeth were chattering.
  3. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct.
    • (Can we date this quote by Wordsworth and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      The jaw makes answer, as the magpie chatters.
Synonyms
Translations

Etymology 2

chat +‎ -er

Noun

chatter (plural chatters)

  1. one who chats
  2. (Internet) a user of chat rooms
    • 2013, Michael K. Sullivan, Sexual Minorities, page 148:
      During the chat sessions, two outreach team members would engage in a conversation about the topic chosen for that event in the main chat room and entice other chatters to join in.

Further reading

Anagrams

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