rattling

[ rat-ling ]

/ ˈræt lɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rattling ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

that rattles: a rattling door.

remarkably good, lively, or fast: a rattling talk; a rattling gallop.

adverb

very: a rattling good time.

Origin of rattling

1350–1400; Middle English ratelinge; see rattle¹, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM rattling

rat·tling·ly, adverb

Words nearby rattling

rattlesnake master, rattlesnake plantain, rattlesnake root, rattlesnake weed, rattletrap, rattling, rattly, ratton, rattoon, rattrap, ratty

Definition for rattling (2 of 3)

rattle ¹

[ rat-l ]

/ ˈræt l /

verb (used without object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

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.

to move or go, especially rapidly, with such sounds: The car rattled along the highway.

to talk rapidly; chatter: He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

to cause to rattle: He rattled the doorknob violently.

to drive, send, bring, etc., especially rapidly, with rattling sounds: The wind rattled the metal can across the roadway.

to utter or perform in a rapid or lively manner: to rattle off a list of complaints.

to disconcert or confuse (a person): A sudden noise rattled the speaker.

Hunting. to stir up (a cover).

noun

a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.

an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, especially a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.

the series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.

a rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.

Origin of rattle

1250–1300; Middle English ratelen (v.), ratele (noun) (cognate with Dutch ratelen, German rasseln); imitative

SYNONYMS FOR rattle

1 clatter, knock.

7 discompose.

9 clatter.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rattle ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for rattling (3 of 3)

rattle ²

[ rat-l ]

/ ˈræt l /

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling. Nautical.

to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down).

Origin of rattle

1720–30; back formation from ratling ratline (taken as verbal noun)

Example sentences from the Web for rattling

The concrete building from which the sounds emanate shakes from the impact, rattling the colorful houses on the dirt roads nearby.

Rage Against the Ebola Crematorium |Abby Haglage |November 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The serial number was right,” he later said, rattling off, “20314261.

The Last American Soldier Executed for Desertion |Michael Daly |June 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He speaks in broken sentences, punctuated by the sound of rattling and tribal drums.

‘Lone Ranger’ Remake and Johnny Depp’s Casting, Never a Good Idea |Allison Samuels |July 5, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Jeff Zucker blew up CNN on Tuesday, rattling nerves throughout the network.

More Heads to Roll at CNN |Lloyd Grove |January 29, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Plus, Shirley MacLaine tells Sandra McElwaine how she's rattling Downton Abbey.

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 3 Review: A Return to Form |Jace Lacob |January 3, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Symptoms: Cough, rapid breathing, whistling, rattling and bubbling in throat.

Pratt's Practical Pointers on the Care of Livestock and Poultry |Pratt Food Co.
I knew then that she had been rattling on because her mind was full of something else.

The Love Affairs of an Old Maid |Lilian Bell
The birds gave a rattling call note of about two seconds duration; it sounded like a typical woodpecker call.

Birds from North Borneo |Max C. Thompson
Your sentiments concerning them approach your sentiments concerning a "rattling good story" in a magazine.

Literary Taste: How to Form It |Arnold Bennett
Karl, beaming at his companions in his old way, but rattling off French vivacities without the faintest trace of accent.

Stories in Light and Shadow |Bret Harte

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (1 of 4)

rattling

/ (ˈrætlɪŋ) /

adverb

informal (intensifier qualifying something good, fine, pleasant, etc) a rattling good lunch

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (2 of 4)

Rattle

/ (ˈrætəl) /

noun

Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (3 of 4)

rattle ¹

/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

to make or cause to make a rapid succession of short sharp sounds, as of loose pellets colliding when shaken in a container

to shake or cause to shake with such a sound the explosion rattled the windows

to send, move, drive, etc, with such a sound the car rattled along the country road

(intr foll by on) to chatter idly; talk, esp at length he rattled on about his work

(tr ; foll by off, out etc) to recite perfunctorily or rapidly

(tr) informal to disconcert; make frightened or anxious

noun

a rapid succession of short sharp sounds

an object, esp a baby's toy, filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken

a series of loosely connected horny segments on the tail of a rattlesnake, vibrated to produce a rattling sound

any of various European scrophulariaceous plants having a capsule in which the seeds rattle, such as Pedicularis palustris (red rattle) and Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)

idle chatter

an idle chatterer

med another name for rale

Word Origin for rattle

C14: from Middle Dutch ratelen; related to Middle High German razzen, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (4 of 4)

rattle ²

/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

(tr often foll by down) to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines

Word Origin for rattle

C18: back formation from rattling, variant of ratline

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rattling

adjective

adverb

Origin of rattling

OTHER WORDS FROM rattling

Words nearby rattling

Definition for rattling (2 of 3)

verb (used without object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

noun

Origin of rattle

SYNONYMS FOR rattle

Definition for rattling (3 of 3)

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling. Nautical.

Origin of rattle

Example sentences from the Web for rattling

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (1 of 4)

adverb

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (3 of 4)

verb

noun

Word Origin for rattle

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (4 of 4)

verb

Word Origin for rattle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rattling

adjective

adverb

Origin of rattling

OTHER WORDS FROM rattling

Words nearby rattling

Definition for rattling (2 of 3)

verb (used without object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

noun

Origin of rattle

SYNONYMS FOR rattle

Definition for rattling (3 of 3)

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling. Nautical.

Origin of rattle

Words related to rattling

Example sentences from the Web for rattling

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (1 of 4)

adverb

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (3 of 4)

verb

noun

Word Origin for rattle

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (4 of 4)

verb

Word Origin for rattle