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Meaning & use

gaggling

verb, adjective·Advanced

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UK/ˈɡæɡlɪŋ/
US/ˈɡæɡlɪŋ/

“gaggling” is a form of “gaggle”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    Present participle of 'gaggle': (of geese) making a loud cackling noise, or (of people) talking noisily in a group.

    Grammar: Used without an object; often describes a continuous action.

    Patterns

    • gaggling geese
    • people gaggling

    The geese were gaggling loudly by the pond.

    A group of tourists stood gaggling in the square.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Making a cackling sound like geese, or (of a group) noisy and chattering.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: a gaggling crowd.

    Patterns

    • gaggling geese
    • gaggling crowd

    The gaggling geese woke us up at dawn.

    We could hear the gaggling crowd from inside.

Word forms

third person singulargaggles
past tensegaggled
past participlegaggled
present participlegaggling

Common combinations

gaggling geese
The gaggling geese flew over the lake.
gaggling crowd
A gaggling crowd gathered outside the theater.
gaggling group
The gaggling group of students entered the museum.

Synonyms and how they differ

cackling
Used for geese or loud laughter; 'gaggling' is more specific to geese or noisy groups.
chattering
Describes rapid talk; 'gaggling' suggests a louder, more chaotic noise.

Word family

gaggle noun
A flock of geese or a noisy group of people.
gaggle verb
To make a cackling noise or talk noisily.

Commonly confused: gaggling or gargling?

gaggling vs gargling

Means rinsing the throat with liquid; 'gaggling' is about geese or noisy talk.

Practice

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