First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1clatter
verb clat·ter \ˈkla-tər\
: to make a quick series of short loud sounds
Full Definition of CLATTER
intransitive verb
1
: to make a rattling sound <the dishes clattered on the shelf>
2
: to talk noisily or rapidly
3
: to move or go with a clatter <clattered down the stairs>
transitive verb
: to cause to clatter
— clat·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun
— clat·ter·ing·ly \ˈkla-tə-riŋ-lē\ adverb
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Origin of CLATTER
Middle English clatren, from Old English *clatrian; of imitative origin
2clatter
noun
Definition of CLATTER
1
: a rattling sound (as of hard bodies striking together) <the clatter of pots and pans>
2
: commotion <the midday clatter of the business district>
3
: noisy chatter
— clat·tery \ˈkla-tə-rē\ adjective
First Known Use of CLATTER
14th century
Related to CLATTER
- Synonyms
- ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, commotion, clutter [chiefly dialect], coil, corroboree [Australian], disturbance, do [chiefly dialect], foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry (or hurry-skurry), kerfuffle [chiefly British], moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore [Scottish], squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo
CLATTERINGLY Defined for Kids
1clatter
verb clat·ter \ˈkla-tər\
clat·teredclat·ter·ing
Definition of CLATTER for Kids
1
: to make or cause to make a rattling sound <Dishes clattered in the kitchen.>
2
: to move or go with a rattling sound <The cart clattered down the road.>
2clatter
noun
Definition of CLATTER for Kids
1
: a rattling sound (as of hard objects striking together) <the clatter of pots and pans>
2
: commotion <She … burst into the schoolroom with such a noise and a clatter that Tommy and Annika … jumped in their seats. — Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking>
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