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patter

 - 7 dictionary results

pat⋅ter

1  [pat-er]
Use patter in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to make a rapid succession of light taps: Raindrops patter on the windowpane.
2. to move or walk lightly or quickly: The child pattered across the room.
–verb (used with object)
3. to cause to patter.
4. to spatter with something.
–noun
5. a rapid succession of light tapping sounds: the steady patter of rain on the tin roof.
6. the act of pattering.
Origin:
1605–15; pat 1 + -er 6

Synonyms:
1. pat, beat, rap pelt.

pat⋅ter

2  [pat-er]
–noun
1. meaningless, rapid talk; mere chatter; gabble.
2. the usually glib and rapid speech or talk used by a magician while performing, a barker at a circus or sideshow, a comedian or other entertainer, a vendor of questionable wares, or the like; stylized or rehearsed talk used to attract attention, entertain, etc.
3. amusing lines delivered rapidly by an entertainer or performer, as in a comic routine or in a song.
4. the jargon or cant of any class, group, etc.
–verb (used without object)
5. to talk glibly or rapidly, esp. with little regard to meaning; chatter.
6. to repeat a paternoster or other prayer in a rapid, mechanical way.
–verb (used with object)
7. to recite or repeat (prayers, verses, etc.) in a rapid, mechanical way.
8. to repeat or say rapidly or glibly.
Origin:
1375–1425; ME pateren to say the paternoster, pray mechanically; see pater

Related forms:
pat⋅ter⋅er, pat⋅er⋅ist, noun

pat⋅ter

3  [pat-er]
–noun
a person or thing that pats.
Origin:
pat 1 + -er 1

pat

2  [pat]
–adjective
1. exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune: a pat solution to a problem.
2. excessively glib; unconvincingly facile: His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.
3. learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly: to have something pat.
–adverb
4. exactly or perfectly.
5. aptly; opportunely.
—Idioms
6. down pat. down 1 (def. 49).
7. stand pat,
a. to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs: The government must stand pat in its policy.
b. Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
Origin:
1570–80; orig. adverbial use of pat 1 , as obs. to hit pat to strike accurately

Related forms:
patness, noun
patter, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To patter
pat·ter 1   (pāt'ər)   
v.   pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters

v.   intr.

  1. To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: Rain pattered steadily against the glass.

  2. To move with quick, light, softly audible steps.

v.   tr.
To cause to patter.
n.  A quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: the patter of rain on the rooftops.

[Frequentative of pat1.]
pat·ter 2   (pāt'ər)   
v.   pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters

v.   intr.

  1. To speak or chatter glibly and rapidly.

  2. To mumble prayers in a mechanical manner.

v.   tr.
To utter in a glib, rapid, or mechanical manner.
n.  

  1. The jargon of a particular group; cant.

  2. Glib rapid speech, as of an auctioneer, salesperson, or comedian.

  3. Meaningless talk; chatter.


[Middle English pateren, shortening and alteration of paternoster, paternoster (from the mechanical and rapid recitation of the prayer); see paternoster.]
pat'ter·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: PAT
Function: abbreviation
paroxysmal atrial tachycardia
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
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