English Explanatory Dictionary

rattle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To create a rattling sound by shaking or striking.
  2. To scare, startle, unsettle, or unnerve.
  3. To make a rattling noise; to make noise by or from shaking.
  4. To assail, annoy, or stun with a rattling noise.
  5. To scold; to rail at.
  6. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering.
  7. To make a clatter with one's voice; to talk rapidly and idly; often with on or away.
  8. To experience withdrawal from drugs.
noun
  1. Object that rattles.
  2. Any of various plants of the genera Rhinanthus and Pedicularis, whose seeds produce a rattling noise in the wind.
  3. A baby’s toy designed to make sound when shaken, usually containing loose grains or pellets in a hollow container.
  4. A musical instrument that makes a rattling sound.
  5. A device which produces a loud rattling sound, especially one having a ratchet mechanism and spun round on a handle.
  6. The set of rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail which produce a rattling sound.
  7. Rattling sound.
  8. A rapid succession of percussive sounds, as made by loose objects shaking or vibrating against one another.
  9. Noisy, rapid talk; babble.
  10. Trivial chatter; gossip.
  11. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer.
  12. A scolding; a sharp rebuke.
noun
  1. Alternative form of rottol: a former Middle Eastern and North African unit of dry weight usually equal to 1–5 lb (0.5–2.5 kg).

Pronunciation

/ˈɹæ.təl/ [ˈɹæ.tɫ̩] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-rattle.wav

Word forms

rattle rattles rattling rattled

Etymology

From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.

Related words

clapper clatter jingle rumble ruttle

Derived words

death rattle death-rattle rattlesnake rattle about rattle around rattle a saber rattle a sabre rattle can rattle-free rattle off rattle on rattle one's hocks rattle one's saber rattle one's sabre rattler rattle sabres rattle someone's cage rattle someone's chain rattle the bones rattle the saber rattle the sabre rattle through rattletrap rattle trap rerattle saber rattle saber-rattle sabre-rattle sabre rattle sabre-rattling unrattled antirattle berattle gourd rattle in the rattle rattleback rattlebag rattlebox rattlebrain rattlebrained rattlebush rattlehead rattleheaded rattleless rattlepate rattlepated rattlepod rattleproof rattleroot rattleskull rattlesome rattle stone rattleweed rattlewings rattlewort rattly red rattle Scotsman's rattle throw one's rattle out of the cot throw one's rattle out of the pram

Translations

Afrikaans: ratel Bulgarian: тропане Bulgarian: чукане Dutch: gerammel Dutch: geratel Dutch: ratel Finnish: kolina Finnish: kalina Finnish: helinä Finnish: kalistin French: bruit French: cliquetis French: crépitement French: râle Galician: ruxe ruxe German: Rasseln German: Klappern German: Gerassel German: Geklapper Ancient Greek: κρότος Hungarian: csörgés Hungarian: zörgés Irish: gliogar Japanese: ガタガタ音 Latin: crepitus Māori: whakararā Māori: ngēngē Polish: grzechotanie Polish: trajkotanie Polish: klekotanie Polish: grzechotka Polish: charczenie Polish: rzężenie Portuguese: chocalhada Portuguese: chocalho Portuguese: guizo Portuguese: cascavel Russian: треск Russian: гро́хот Russian: дребезжа́ние Russian: стук Serbo-Croatian: клопо̀тац Serbo-Croatian: чегр̀та̄љка Serbo-Croatian: зве̏чка Serbo-Croatian: кле̏пе̄т Serbo-Croatian: кло̏по̄т Serbo-Croatian: хро̀пац Serbo-Croatian: ропац Serbo-Croatian: klopòtac Serbo-Croatian: čegr̀tāljka Serbo-Croatian: zvȅčka Serbo-Croatian: klȅpēt Serbo-Croatian: klȍpōt Spanish: matraca Swahili: kayamba Swedish: rassel Vietnamese: lách cách Vietnamese: lạch cạch
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on R Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary