chatter
gb/t͡ʃˈætɚ/ us/t͡ʃˈætɚ/
B1
English
~ 8900
cseveg, csacsog, fecseg, csevegés, fecsegés, zsivaj, kommunikáció, online szóbeszéd, üzenetforgalom, vacog a foga, csivitel, csattog, makog, csattogás, csicsergés, szerszámrezgés, berezgés
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] chatters (about [something])
The kids chattered excitedly about their trip to the zoo.
A gyerekek izgatottan csacsogtak az állatkerti kirándulásukról.
She chattered on about her new job all through dinner.
Egész vacsora alatt az új munkájáról csacsogott.
They sat by the window, chattering about nothing in particular.
He tends to chatter when he’s nervous before a meeting.
We could hear the students chattering in the hallway between classes.
Learner examples
The two girls chattered on the bus.
A két lány csevegett a buszon.
He chattered about his weekend for an hour.
Egy órán át a hétvégéjéről fecsegett.
The boys chattered happily after the game.
They sat in the cafe and chattered about school.
She always chatters when she is nervous.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "chatter" where simple "talk" or "speak" is better in formal situations. "Chatter" usually suggests light, informal talk, often for a long time, and is not used for serious speeches or presentations. It is also rarely used with a direct object; you say "chatter about the movie," not "*chatter the movie."
Meaning
talk quickly about small things
Collocations
chatter away
|chatter excitedly
|chatter about nothing
|nervous chatter
|kids chattering
|chatter on and on
Synonyms
chat (More neutral and common; does not always suggest talking very quickly or continuously.)
|
prattle (Suggests talking at length in a silly or childish way; slightly negative or literary.)
Antonyms
keep quiet (Means not speaking or speaking very little, the opposite of talking quickly and a lot.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|social
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To talk fast and for a long time about small or unimportant things.
To talk quickly and continuously, especially about unimportant or everyday things.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[chatter] about [something]
The cheerful chatter in the café made it feel very welcoming.
A kávézó vidám zsivaja nagyon barátságos hangulatot teremtett.
I could hear the low chatter of students in the library.
Hallottam a diákok halk csevegését a könyvtárban.
Their constant chatter during the movie annoyed everyone around them.
The room was filled with the chatter of family members catching up.
She tried to study despite the background chatter in the office.
Learner examples
There was a lot of chatter in the classroom.
Nagy zsivaj volt az osztályteremben.
I like the happy chatter in this cafe.
Szeretem a vidám zsivajt ebben a kávézóban.
The teacher asked for quiet because of the loud chatter.
We heard the soft chatter of people in the next room.
Their chatter on the train made the trip feel short.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "chatter" with "gossip." "Chatter" is general light talk; "gossip" is talk about other people’s private lives. Also, "a chatter" is unusual; use "some chatter" or "the chatter."
Meaning
quick light informal talk
Collocations
background chatter
|office chatter
|friendly chatter
|the chatter of voices
|constant chatter
|idle chatter
Synonyms
chat (Very close in meaning; usually slightly more neutral and may refer to any friendly talk, not necessarily quick or continuous.)
Antonyms
silence (The complete absence of sound or speech, the opposite of lively conversation.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|social
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Fast, happy talk about small or unimportant things.
Quick, continuous, and often lively conversation, especially about unimportant or everyday things.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[chatter] about [something]
There has been increased online chatter about the new policy.
Megélénkült az online szóbeszéd az új szabályozásról.
Intelligence agencies are monitoring terrorist chatter in the region.
A hírszerző ügynökségek figyelik a térségben folyó terrorista kommunikációt.
The sudden drop in market chatter worried some investors.
Analysts pay close attention to social media chatter before big product launches.
Police took the threat seriously after picking up worrying chatter on messaging apps.
Learner examples
The news spoke about online chatter before the protest.
A hírekben szó volt a tüntetés előtti online szóbeszédről.
There is a lot of social media chatter about the new phone.
Sok szó esik a közösségi médiában az új telefonról.
The company watches internet chatter to see what customers think.
The government listens to terrorist chatter for signs of danger.
Before the game, there was much chatter about who would win.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is always negative. It can be neutral or even positive; it simply refers to the volume and content of informal communication. Also, it usually appears without an article ("intelligence chatter" not "*an intelligence chatter").
Meaning
informal talk as information
Collocations
online chatter
|social media chatter
|intelligence chatter
|terrorist chatter
|market chatter
|industry chatter
Synonyms
buzz (Informal; suggests excited talk or attention around a topic, especially in entertainment or business.)
Antonyms
radio silence (Used figuratively to mean no communication or information, the opposite of noticeable ongoing chatter.)
Themes
media
|technology
|politics
|security
|communication
Definition
Informal talk or messages that people watch to learn what others might do, often in news or security reports.
Informal talk, messages, or online posts that are noticed and discussed as a sign of activity, interest, or possible plans, often in media or intelligence contexts.
VERB
B2
4
vacog a foga
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone’s] teeth chatter
Her teeth chattered as she waited outside in the freezing wind.
Vacogott a foga, miközben kint várt a fagyos szélben.
I was so scared that my teeth started to chatter.
Annyira féltem, hogy vacogni kezdett a fogam.
He stood in the rain, teeth chattering with cold.
The child’s teeth chattered loudly as he stepped out of the icy water.
My teeth were chattering so much I could hardly speak.
Learner examples
Her teeth chattered because it was very cold.
Vacogott a foga, mert nagyon hideg volt.
I was so afraid that my teeth chattered.
Annyira féltem, hogy vacogott a fogam.
His teeth chattered when he jumped into the cold pool.
My teeth were chattering, and I could not talk well.
The little boy’s teeth chattered in the snow.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "*my teeth were shaking" instead of "my teeth were chattering." "Chatter" is the natural verb for this specific movement and sound of teeth.
Meaning
teeth hitting together quickly
Collocations
teeth chattering
|my teeth were chattering
|so cold my teeth chattered
|chattering with fear
|chattering with cold
Synonyms
rattle (Can describe the sound or movement of teeth or objects shaking quickly, but is more general and used for many things, not just teeth.)
Antonyms
stay still (Describes not moving; in this context, teeth that do not shake or hit together at all.)
Themes
body
|health
|emotions
Definition
When someone’s teeth hit together again and again because they are very cold, afraid, or nervous.
(Of a person’s teeth) to hit against each other repeatedly, usually because of cold, fear, or nervousness.
VERB
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[something] chatters
The monkeys chattered loudly in the trees above us.
A majmok hangosan makogtak felettünk a fákon.
I could hear birds chattering outside my bedroom window.
Hallottam, ahogy odakint madarak csivitelnek a hálószobám ablaka előtt.
Old typewriters chattered in the background as the reporters worked.
The projector chattered quietly as the film played.
Fans chattered and clicked in the server room all night.
Learner examples
The birds chattered in the garden.
A madarak csiviteltek a kertben.
Monkeys chattered in the trees near the road.
Majmok makogtak az út melletti fákon.
The small machine chattered on the table.
I heard insects chattering in the dark.
Many keyboards chattered in the busy office.
Common mistake:
Learners may use only "tweet" or "chirp" for animal sounds. "Chatter" often suggests a fast, continuous series of sounds, especially for monkeys and some birds, and can also be used for machines or devices making many quick sounds.
Meaning
make rapid short sounds
Collocations
monkeys chattering
|birds chattering
|keyboards chattering
|machine chattering
|chattering in the trees
|the engine chattered
Synonyms
rattle (Emphasizes a hard, clacking sound from shaking objects; "chatter" often sounds lighter or higher.)
Antonyms
fall silent (Means to stop making any sound, the opposite of producing constant quick sounds.)
Themes
nature
|sound
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make many short, fast sounds again and again, like some animals or machines do.
To make quick, repeated, often high-pitched sounds, like those made by some animals, machines, or objects.
NOUN
B2
6
csattogás
B1
csicsergés
B1
Usage pattern:
the [chatter] of [something]
We woke to the chatter of birds outside the window.
Ablakunk előtt a madarak csicsergésére ébredtünk.
The sharp chatter of the machine guns echoed through the valley.
A géppuskák éles csattogása visszhangzott a völgyben.
The forest was alive with the chatter of insects at dusk.
I like the gentle chatter of keyboards in a busy office.
The only sound was the distant chatter of a train on the tracks.
Learner examples
The morning started with the chatter of birds.
A reggel madárcsicsergéssel kezdődött.
We heard the loud chatter of machine guns in the movie.
A filmben a géppuskák hangos csattogását hallottuk.
The forest was full of insect chatter at night.
In the office, there was soft chatter of keyboards.
We listened to the monkey chatter in the zoo.
Common mistake:
Learners may use only "noise" or "sound" and miss this more specific word. "Chatter" usually suggests many small, repeated sounds, not one big loud sound.
Meaning
series of rapid short sounds
Collocations
the chatter of birds
|machine-gun chatter
|monkey chatter
|keyboard chatter
|engine chatter
|insect chatter
Synonyms
clatter (Suggests louder, harder, often metallic sounds; "chatter" can be lighter or higher-pitched.)
Antonyms
quiet (Means very little sound, the opposite of a noticeable series of short sounds.)
Themes
nature
|sound
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Many short, fast sounds together, made by animals or machines.
A series of quick, repeated short sounds, as made by animals, machines, or objects.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
7
berezgés
C1
Usage pattern:
[chatter] in [a machine/tool]
The engineer adjusted the settings to reduce chatter in the milling machine.
A mérnök módosította a beállításokat, hogy csökkentse a marógépen jelentkező berezgést.
Excessive tool chatter can ruin the surface of the metal part.
A túlzott szerszámrezgés tönkreteheti a fémalkatrész felületét.
Operators are trained to listen for chatter and stop the machine if it occurs.
Using a more rigid setup helped eliminate chatter during the cutting process.
The report noted increased chatter at higher spindle speeds.
Learner examples
The machine had a problem with chatter during cutting.
Vágás közben berezgés jelentkezett a gépnél.
We must reduce chatter to protect the tool.
Csökkentenünk kell a szerszámrezgést, hogy megvédjük a szerszámot.
Chatter can make the surface of the part bad.
He changed the settings to stop the chatter in the lathe.
Too much chatter means the machine is not working well.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is normal "talk" or "noise." In technical contexts, "chatter" here is a specific mechanical problem, not people speaking.
Meaning
unwanted vibration in machinery
Collocations
tool chatter
|machine chatter
|lathe chatter
|milling chatter
|reduce chatter
|eliminate chatter
Synonyms
vibration (More general; "chatter" is a specific type of rapid, problematic vibration in machines or tools.)
Antonyms
smooth operation (Describes a machine working without unwanted vibration or shaking.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|industry
|science
|work
Definition
Unwanted shaking in a machine or tool when it is working, which can make noise and damage the work.
Unwanted vibration or rapid shaking in a machine or cutting tool during operation, which can cause noise, poor surface finish, or damage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chatter
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈætɚ/
US/t͡ʃˈætɚ/
Syllables & stress
chat - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (chat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: chatter
- Plural: chatter
Verb
- Base: chatter
- 3rd Person Singular: chatters
- Present Participle: chattering
- Past: chattered
Word family
Forms
chatters
verb
chattering
verb
chattered
verb
Core family
chat
verb A2
chatty
adjective
Related words
chatterbox
noun
chattiness
noun
Expressions
chatter away
1/t͡ʃˈætɚ əwˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
informal
talk happily for a long time
To talk for a long time in a happy, relaxed way, often about small things.
Examples
- The children chattered away in the back seat during the whole drive.
- We sat by the fire and chattered away about old times.
- She chattered away on the phone for nearly an hour.
keep the chatter down
1/kˈip ðə t͡ʃˈætɚ dˈaʊn/
fixed phrase
informal
make people talk less or quieter
To tell people to stop talking so much or to talk more quietly.
Examples
- Can you keep the chatter down? I’m trying to study.
- The teacher asked them to keep the chatter down during the test.
- Please keep the chatter down while the speaker is talking.
teeth chatter
1/tˈiθ t͡ʃˈætɚ/
fixed phrase
teeth hit together from cold
When a person’s teeth hit together again and again because they are very cold, afraid, or nervous.
Examples
- My teeth began to chatter as I waited outside in the snow.
- His teeth chattered so much that he could hardly speak.
- Her teeth were chattering from fear as she walked onto the stage.