Meaning & use
patter
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Meanings
nounsingular
A quick series of soft, light tapping sounds, like small feet or raindrops hitting a surface.
Grammar: Usually used with the and followed by of: the patter of rain.
Patterns
- the patter of something
We fell asleep to the patter of rain on the tent.
I heard the patter of little feet running down the hall.
The patter of hail on the roof grew louder.
noununcountableinformal
Fast, smooth talk that a salesperson, comedian or magician uses to keep an audience interested or to persuade people.
Grammar: Has no plural: his patter was clever, not his patters.
Patterns
- a salesman's patter
The street magician kept up a stream of patter while he shuffled the cards.
The salesman's patter was so smooth that I nearly bought the vacuum cleaner.
The comedian's quick patter between songs had the crowd laughing.
verbintransitive
To make a quick series of soft, light tapping sounds, or to move with quick light steps.
Grammar: No object; often followed by a direction: the kitten pattered across the floor.
Patterns
- patter across/along somewhere
- patter on something
Rain pattered against the window all afternoon.
The puppy pattered down the stairs to greet us.
Small feet pattered along the corridor on Christmas morning.
Word forms
| third person singular | patters |
|---|---|
| past tense | pattered |
| past participle | pattered |
| -ing form | pattering |
Common combinations
- the patter of rain
- The patter of rain on the leaves was oddly calming.
- patter of feet
- We heard the patter of feet overhead as the children woke up.
- sales patter
- His sales patter sounded rehearsed after a dozen demonstrations.
- smooth patter
- With smooth patter he talked his way past the guard.
- patter on the roof
- The patter on the roof told us the storm had started.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pitter-patter
- Pitter-patter is a more playful, sound-imitating version and is used almost only for light footsteps or rain.
- spiel
- Spiel stresses a prepared, long-winded sales speech, and is a little more critical than patter.
- tapping
- Tapping is a neutral word for repeated light knocks, without the soft, rapid rhythm that patter suggests.
Opposites
Word family
- pattering noun
- the sound of light, quick tapping
- pitter-patter noun
- a lighter, playful form for the sound of rain or small feet
Commonly confused: patter or pattern?
patter vs pattern
A pattern is a repeated design or arrangement. Patter is a sound or fast talk, and the two are easy to mix up in spelling.
Practice
The comedian's quick _____ between jokes kept the audience laughing.
Choose one answer.
Patter here means fast, entertaining talk. Pattern is a design, and platter is a serving dish.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “patter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.