clatter

[ klat-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to make a loud, rattling sound, as that produced by hard objects striking rapidly one against the other:

   The shutters clattered in the wind.

2. to move rapidly with such a sound:

   The iron-wheeled cart clattered down the street.

3. to talk fast and noisily; chatter:

   They clattered on and on about their children.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to clatter:

   clattering the pots and pans in the sink.

noun

1. a rattling noise or series of rattling noises:

   The stagecoach made a terrible clatter going over the wooden bridge.

2. noisy disturbance; din; racket.
3. noisy talk; din of voices:

   They had to shout over the clatter at the cocktail party.

4. idle talk; gossip.

clatter

/ ˈklætə /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a rattling noise, esp as a result of movement
2. intr to chatter

noun

1. a rattling sound or noise
2. a noisy commotion, such as one caused by loud chatter

Derived Forms

• ˈclatteringly, adverb
• ˈclattery, adjective
• ˈclatterer, noun

Other Words From

• clatter·er noun
• clatter·ing·ly adverb
• clatter·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clatter¹

before 1050; Middle English clateren, Old English clatr- (in clatrunge ); cognate with Dutch klateren to rattle; -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of clatter¹

Old English clatrung clattering (gerund); related to Dutch klateren to rattle, German klatschen to smack, Norwegian klattra to knock

Example Sentences

From there things just keep happening, as one event unfolds into another in a headlong rush amid the incessant clatter of plates and pans and the machine spitting out endless order tickets.

From Los Angeles Times

After a brief clatter of wickets, Timm van der Gugten swung effectively for 26 not out off nine balls to the delight of the remaining Welsh supporters, with 17 runs coming off the last over as Glamorgan finished with a very competitive-looking total.

From BBC

Hanley had no need to make a tackle, no need to do it with his wrong foot, no need to clatter into Zalewski, who was going nowhere at the time.

From BBC

A man dressed in the dark green uniform of a 1950s traffic cop, replete with an old-fashioned leather cap, blew his whistle sharply and waved the car — a well-maintained 1980 Wartburg, a classic despite the engine’s clatter — through to the parking lot.

From New York Times

A pod of orcas even disrupted a sailing race last year, when a boat sailing from the Netherlands to Italy had a 15-minute encounter with the animals, prompting the crew to drop their craft’s sails and raise a clatter to fend them off.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• clack