chatter

chat|ter¹ [ˈtʃætə US -ər] v

[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: From the sound]

1.) [i]also chatter away/on

to talk quickly in a friendly way without stopping, especially about things that are not serious or important

▪ She chattered away happily until she noticed I wasn't listening.

▪ She chattered excitedly like a child.

chatter about

▪ We were chattering about the events of last night.

2.) if birds or monkeys chatter, they make short high sounds

3.) if your teeth are chattering, you are so cold or frightened that your teeth are knocking together

4.) the chattering classes

BrE educated ↑middle-class people who like to discuss and have opinions about recent events and situations in society

>chatterer n

chatter ²

chatter² n [U]

1.) informal talk, especially about things that are not serious or important

chatter of

▪ the excited chatter of the audience

▪ Jane's constant chatter was annoying him.

▪ gossip and idle chatter

▪ She was full of chatter about her new friends.

2.) a series of short high sounds made by some birds or monkeys

chatter of

▪ the chatter of birds

3.) a hard quick repeated sound made by your teeth knocking together or by machines

chatter of

▪ the chatter of the printer