v., -tered, -ter·ing, -ters. v.intr.
- To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: Rain pattered steadily against the glass.
- To move with quick, light, softly audible steps.
To cause to patter.
n.
A quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: the patter of rain on the rooftops.
[Frequentative of PAT1.]
pat·ter2 (păt'ər)
v., -tered, -ter·ing, -ters. v.intr.
- To speak or chatter glibly and rapidly.
- To mumble prayers in a mechanical manner.
To utter in a glib, rapid, or mechanical manner.
n.
- The jargon of a particular group; cant.
- Glib rapid speech, as of an auctioneer, salesperson, or comedian.
- Meaningless talk; chatter.
[Middle English pateren, shortening and alteration of paternoster, paternoster (from the mechanical and rapid recitation of the prayer). See paternoster.]
patterer pat'ter·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
