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View synonyms for rattle

rattle

1

[ rat-l ]

verb (used without object)

, rat·tled, rat·tling.
  1. to give out or cause a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as in consequence of agitation and repeated concussions:

    The windows rattled in their frames.

    Synonyms: knock, clatter

  2. to move or go, especially rapidly, with such sounds:

    The car rattled along the highway.

  3. to talk rapidly; chatter:

    He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.



verb (used with object)

, rat·tled, rat·tling.
  1. to cause to rattle:

    He rattled the doorknob violently.

  2. to drive, send, bring, etc., especially rapidly, with rattling sounds:

    The wind rattled the metal can across the roadway.

  3. to utter or perform in a rapid or lively manner:

    to rattle off a list of complaints.

  4. to disconcert or confuse (a person):

    A sudden noise rattled the speaker.

    Synonyms: discompose

  5. Hunting. to stir up (a cover).

noun

  1. a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.

    Synonyms: clatter

  2. an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, especially a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.
  3. the series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.
  4. a rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.

rattle

2

[ rat-l ]

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.
, rat·tled, rat·tling.
  1. to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down ).

rattle

1

/ ˈrætəl /

verb

  1. troften foll bydown to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


rattle

2

/ ˈrætəl /

verb

  1. to make or cause to make a rapid succession of short sharp sounds, as of loose pellets colliding when shaken in a container
  2. to shake or cause to shake with such a sound

    the explosion rattled the windows

  3. to send, move, drive, etc, with such a sound

    the car rattled along the country road

  4. intrfoll byon to chatter idly; talk, esp at length

    he rattled on about his work

  5. tr; foll by off, out etc to recite perfunctorily or rapidly
  6. informal.
    tr to disconcert; make frightened or anxious
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a rapid succession of short sharp sounds
  2. an object, esp a baby's toy, filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken
  3. a series of loosely connected horny segments on the tail of a rattlesnake, vibrated to produce a rattling sound
  4. any of various European scrophulariaceous plants having a capsule in which the seeds rattle, such as Pedicularis palustris ( red rattle ) and Rhinanthus minor ( yellow rattle )
  5. idle chatter
  6. an idle chatterer
  7. med another name for rale
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Rattle

3

/ ˈrætəl /

noun

  1. RattleSir Simon1955MBritishMUSIC: conductor Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rattle1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb rat(t)elen, ratlen, cognate with Dutch ratelen, German rasseln ); of imitative origin

Origin of rattle2

First recorded in 1720–30; back formation from ratling ratline (taken as verbal noun)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rattle1

C18: back formation from rattling , variant of ratline

Origin of rattle2

C14: from Middle Dutch ratelen ; related to Middle High German razzen , of imitative origin
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Example Sentences

“We do, however, believe that invoking chaos, and trying to get us to kinda rattle in our boots, is the reason that they’re doing this.”

There’s just one F-bomb that should rattle us all right now and it’s being used by those who know Trump best: Fascism.

McQueen, 55, is quick to rattle off a list of modern-day conflicts that have parallels to the film — in the Ukraine, the Middle East, Libya.

They’re in no rush to start paying rent, he said, but it didn’t take much prompting to get him to rattle off a long list of the difficulties.

That means relentless, exuberant ridicule that is bold and entertaining enough to command attention, rattle Trump, thrill her base and earn her a reputation as a real fighter who is ready to rule.

From Salon

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