Meaning & use

patter

noun·Academic

A rapid succession of light tapping sounds, or fast, fluent talk used to persuade or entertain.

See it in a sentence

The patter of rain on the roof lulled her to sleep within minutes.

The salesman's smooth patter kept customers listening long after they meant to leave.

A note on using this word

Patter covers two related senses: a light repeated sound, and quick, practiced speech used by performers or salespeople.

Words with a similar meaning

chatterbabble

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To make a rapid series of light tapping sounds.

Rain pattered against the window as the storm rolled through town.

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