Dictionary
rat•tle
Pronunciation: (rat'l), [key]
—v., -tled, -tling,
—n.
—
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. Hunting.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]—
v.t., -tled, -tling.
Naut.
to furnish with ratlines (usually fol. by
down).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
