clatter
gb/klˈætɚ/ us/klˈætɚ/
B2
English
~ 8900
csörömpölés, csattogás, zörgés, csörömpöl, csattog, zörög, csörtet, csörömpölve
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
the clatter of [plural noun]
We woke up to the clatter of dishes in the kitchen.
Arra ébredtünk, hogy a konyhában csörömpölnek az edények.
The clatter of hooves on the road grew louder as the horses approached.
Ahogy közeledtek a lovak, egyre hangosabb lett a paták csattogása az úton.
I could hear the clatter of cutlery from the restaurant next door.
The pans fell to the floor with a terrible clatter.
Behind the door came the clatter of keyboards and printers.
Learner examples
I heard the clatter of plates in the sink.
Hallottam, ahogy csörömpölnek a tányérok a mosogatóban.
The clatter of the train kept me awake.
A vonat zakatolása nem hagyott aludni.
The pan hit the floor with a loud clatter.
There was a lot of clatter in the busy kitchen.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "clatter" with "clutter". "Clatter" is about loud noise, while "clutter" means a messy collection of things. Also, some learners use "a clatter" for any noise; it is best used for repeated, hard, rattling sounds (like dishes, hooves, machinery).
Meaning
loud rattling noise of hard objects
Collocations
the clatter of dishes
|the clatter of cutlery
|the clatter of hooves
|with a loud clatter
|constant clatter
|the clatter from the kitchen
Synonyms
rattle (Very close in meaning, but can also describe a lighter or shorter sound.)
|
clanking (Suggests a heavier metallic sound than clatter.)
Antonyms
silence (The complete absence of sound, opposite of a loud noisy clatter.)
|
quiet (A low level of sound, contrasting with the loudness of clatter.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|sounds
|daily_life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A loud, sharp sound that happens again and again when hard things hit each other.
A loud, often continuous rattling sound produced when hard objects strike or shake against each other.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] clatters
The dishes clattered as the train went over the bridge.
Az edények csörömpöltek, amikor a vonat átment a hídon.
Metal trays clattered onto the counter in the busy café.
A forgalmas kávézóban fémtálcák csörömpölve csapódtak a pultra.
Her keys clattered onto the table when she dropped them.
The wheels clattered over the uneven cobblestones.
Old windows clattered in the strong wind.
Learner examples
The plates clattered when he put them down.
A tányérok csörömpöltek, amikor letette őket.
The stones clattered under the car.
A kövek zörögtek az autó alatt.
Her high heels clattered on the hard floor.
The cups clattered in the cabinet during the storm.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "clatter" for soft sounds, but it should be used only for loud, sharp sounds from hard objects. Some also add an unnecessary object (e.g. *"He clattered the"* without saying what or where); use the intransitive pattern "[something] clatters" when nothing is being moved by someone.
Meaning
to make a loud rattling noise
Collocations
pots clatter
|dishes clatter in the sink
|heels clatter on the floor
|trains clatter past
|windows clatter in the wind
|spoons clatter against the bowl
Synonyms
rattle (Can describe a similar sound but may suggest a lighter or looser vibration than clatter.)
|
clank (Often used for heavy metal sounds; clatter can be broader and faster-sounding.)
Antonyms
be silent (Describes the absence of sound, opposite of making a loud clattering noise.)
Themes
daily life
|sounds
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a loud, repeated sound when hard things hit each other.
To produce a loud, often continuous rattling sound when hard objects strike or shake against each other.
VERB
B2
3
csörtet
B2
csörömpölve
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] clatters [somewhere] / clatter [something] [adv/prep]
She clattered down the stairs in her boots.
A csizmájában csörtetett le a lépcsőn.
He clattered the pans into the sink and went back to the table.
Csörömpölve beledobta a serpenyőket a mosogatóba, aztán visszament az asztalhoz.
The trolley clattered across the tiles and out into the corridor.
The children clattered into the classroom just before the bell rang.
I heard him clatter the tools back onto the metal shelf.
Learner examples
The boys clattered down the stairs.
A fiúk lecsörtettek a lépcsőn.
She clattered into the room with two big bags.
Két nagy táskával becsörtetett a szobába.
He clattered the plates onto the table.
The cart clattered across the road.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "clatter" for quiet movement (e.g. *"She clattered quietly"*), which is contradictory. The word always suggests clearly audible, noisy movement. Also, avoid using it for soft objects like pillows; it is normally used for hard objects like dishes, boots, metal, or wheels.
Meaning
to move somewhere making clattering noise
Collocations
clatter down the stairs
|clatter into the room
|clatter across the floor
|clatter the dishes into the sink
|clatter the plates onto the table
|clatter out of the kitchen
Synonyms
clomp (Suggests heavy, noisy walking; clatter can involve objects or faster, lighter impacts.)
|
bang (Focuses on hitting something loudly once or a few times; clatter suggests repeated impacts while moving.)
Antonyms
tiptoe (Describes moving very quietly and gently, opposite to the loud, noisy movement of clattering.)
Themes
movement
|daily life
|sounds
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go or to put something somewhere while making a loud, hard, repeated noise.
To move, or cause something to move, quickly and noisily so that it makes a loud rattling sound.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clatter
IPA
GB/klˈætɚ/
US/klˈætɚ/
Syllables & stress
clat - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (clat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: clatter
- Plural: clatter
Verb
- Base: clatter
- 3rd Person Singular: clatters
- Present Participle: clattering
- Past: clattered
Word family
Forms
clatters
verb
clattering
verb
clattered
verb
Related words
clattery
adjective
Expressions
clatter around
1/klˈætɚ ɚˈaʊnd/
phrasal verb
move around making clattering noises
To move around in a place while making a lot of loud, hard sounds, usually from dishes, tools, or shoes.
Examples
- She clattered around in the kitchen, getting breakfast ready.
- Someone was clattering around upstairs, looking for something.
- He clattered around the garage, searching through his tools.
with a clatter
1/wˈɪθ ə klˈætɚ/
fixed phrase
happening while making clattering noise
Used to say that something falls, lands, or hits a surface and makes a loud, hard, repeated noise.
Examples
- The books fell off the shelf with a clatter.
- He dropped the keys on the counter with a clatter.
- The tray slid from her hands and hit the floor with a clatter.