好词典

chatter

UK //ˈtʃætə(r)//US //ˈtʃætər//

词源

源自中古英语 'chateren',可能模仿快速说话或物体碰撞的声音,与荷兰语 'schateren'(大笑)和德语 'schwatzen'(闲聊)有关。

verb

❶ 指快速、连续地说话,通常内容琐碎或没有重点,常用于形容闲聊或喋喋不休的状态。

“The children chattered excitedly about their school trip.”

(孩子们兴奋地喋喋不休地谈论他们的学校旅行。)

“She chattered away on the phone for hours.”

(她在电话里喋喋不休地聊了好几个小时。)

❶ 指物体因震动或碰撞而发出连续、快速的声音,比如牙齿打颤或机器震动。

“Her teeth chattered from the cold.”

(她的牙齿因为寒冷而咯咯打颤。)

“The old washing machine chattered loudly during the spin cycle.”

(那台旧洗衣机在脱水时发出剧烈的震动声。)

同义词:babble, prattle, jabber, gossip, rattle

noun

❶ 指快速、琐碎的谈话,通常没有实质性内容,常用于形容闲聊或喋喋不休的对话。

“The constant chatter in the cafe made it hard to concentrate.”

(咖啡馆里持续的闲聊声让人难以集中注意力。)

“I could hear the cheerful chatter of the party guests.”

(我能听到派对宾客愉快的闲聊声。)

❶ 指物体因震动或碰撞而发出的连续、快速的声音,比如机器或自然现象的声音。

“The chatter of the printer was annoying in the quiet office.”

(打印机在安静的办公室里发出的咔嗒声很烦人。)

“We could hear the chatter of the squirrels in the trees.”

(我们能听到松鼠在树上发出的吱吱声。)

同义词:babble, gossip, noise, clatter, prattle

常见短语

idle chatter — 指没有实质内容的闲聊,通常用于形容无意义的谈话或打发时间的对话。

“They engaged in idle chatter while waiting for the meeting to start.”

(他们在等待会议开始时进行无意义的闲聊。)

chatter away — 指持续不断地说话,通常形容某人喋喋不休或热情地谈论某事。

“She chattered away about her vacation plans.”

(她喋喋不休地谈论她的度假计划。)