rattle: Meaning and Definition of

rat•tle

Pronunciation: (rat'l), [key]
— v., n. -tled, -tling,
—v.i.
  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.
  2. to move or go, esp. rapidly, with such sounds: The car rattled along the highway.
  3. to talk rapidly; chatter: He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.
—v.t.
  1. to cause to rattle: He rattled the doorknob violently.
  2. to drive, send, bring, etc., esp. 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.
  5. to stir up (a cover).
—n.
  1. a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.
  2. an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, esp. 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.

rat•tle

Pronunciation: (rat'l), [key]
— -tled, -tling.
  1. to furnish with ratlines (usually fol. by down).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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