Definitions for rattle
ˈræt lrat·tle

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. rattle, rattling, rale(noun)

   a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

   "the death rattle"

2. rattle(noun)

   a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken

3. rattle(verb)

   loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail

4. rattle(verb)

   make short successive sounds

5. rattle(verb)

   shake and cause to make a rattling noise

Wiktionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. rattle(Noun)

   a sound made by loose objects shaking or vibrating against one another

   I wish they would fix the rattle under my dashboard.

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

2. rattle(Noun)

   a baby's toy designed to make sound when shaken, usually containing loose grains or pellets in a hollow container

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

3. rattle(Verb)

   To create a sound by shaking.

   Rattle the can of cat treats if you need to find Fluffy.

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

4. rattle(Verb)

   To scare, startle, unsettle, or unnerve.

   The accident really rattled him.

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

5. rattle(Verb)

   To cause something to make a rattling sound by hitting it.

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

6. rattle(Verb)

   To make a rattling noise; to make noise by or from shaking.

   I wish the dashboard in my car would quit rattling.

   Etymology: . Toy named after sound.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Rattle(verb)

   to make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

2. Rattle(verb)

   to drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

3. Rattle(verb)

   to make a clatter with the voice; to talk rapidly and idly; to clatter; -- with on or away; as, she rattled on for an hour

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

4. Rattle(verb)

   to cause to make a rattling or clattering sound; as, to rattle a chain

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

5. Rattle(verb)

   to assail, annoy, or stun with a rattling noise

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

6. Rattle(verb)

   hence, to disconcert; to confuse; as, to rattle one's judgment; to rattle a player in a game

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

7. Rattle(verb)

   to scold; to rail at

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

8. Rattle(noun)

   a rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

9. Rattle(noun)

   noisy, rapid talk

   Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

10. Rattle(noun)

    an instrument with which a rattling sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattles when shaken

    Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

11. Rattle(noun)

    a noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer

    Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

12. Rattle(noun)

    a scolding; a sharp rebuke

    Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

13. Rattle(noun)

    any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a rattling sound

    Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

14. Rattle(noun)

    the noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; -- chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle. See R/le

    Etymology: [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrtele a rattle, in hrtelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. rattle

   A rattle is a type of percussion instrument which produces a sound when shaken. Rattles are described in the Hornbostel–Sachs system as Shaken Idiophones or Rattles. Rattles include: ⁕Maracas, widely used in Cha Cha Cha and jazz. ⁕The egg-shaped plastic chicken shake, filled with steel shot and available in varying tones depending on the size and quantity of shot. ⁕Folk instruments especially used in ceremonial dance. ⁕Toy rattles for infants.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Rattle

   rat′l, v.i. to clatter: to move along rapidly, with a clattering noise: to speak eagerly and noisily.—v.t. to cause to make a clatter: to stun with noise: to speak rapidly: to scold loudly.—n. a sharp noise rapidly repeated, as the death-rattle: a clatter: loud empty talk: loud scolding: a toy or instrument for rattling: a brisk jabberer: an annual meadow herb: a lousewort.—adjs. Ratt′le-brained, -head′ed, -pat′ed, noisy: giddy: unsteady.—ns. Ratt′le-mouse, a bat; Ratt′lepate, a noisy chatterer; Ratt′ler, a loud, inconsiderate talker: (coll.) a stunning blow: (coll.) an impudent lie; Ratt′lesnake, a poisonous snake having a number of hard, bony rings loosely jointed at the end of the tail, which make a rattling noise; Ratt′lesnake-grass, an American grass; Ratt′lesnake-mas′ter, -root, an American plant reputed to cure the bite of a rattlesnake; Ratt′lesnake-weed, a hawk-weed of the United States; Ratt′le-trap, a rickety vehicle; Ratt′lewort, a plant of genus Crotalaria; Ratt′ling, a clattering: railing.—adj. making a rattle: smart, lively: (coll.) strikingly great. [A.S. hrætele, hratele, a plant—from the rattling of the seeds in the capsules; Ger. rasseln, Dut. ratelen, to rattle.]

CrunchBase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Rattle

   Rattle.me is a non-interruptive extensible communications platform. Exact details of service is currently under wraps.

Anagrams for rattle »

1. latter, tarlet, Tatler

2. Latter

3. Tatler

How to pronounce rattle?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say rattle in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of rattle in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of rattle in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of rattle in a Sentence

1. Andre Bakhos:

   Anytime we have events like that, it tends to rattle investors because of the uncertainty of what it all means, it creates a cause for a pause until investors get more information.

2. Vishnu Varathan:

   This is going to drag on until they can all come to the table and agree to even the playing field. But the unpredictability of the situation continues to rattle the markets.

3. Jack King:

   Everything clicked off beautifully. I counted it down fine ... and I saw this magnificent thing still sitting on the launch pad, bathing in fire. And finally it lifted off, and the sound hit us, when it hit us that particular time, the windows in the launch control center just started to rattle, and on top of that, it was a newly constructed building, and all this dust came down from the ceiling. I thought the whole damn place was going to come down on us.

4. Florynce Kennedy:

   You've got to rattle your cage door. You've got to let them know that you're in there, and that you want out. Make noise. Cause trouble. You may not win right away, but you'll sure have a lot more fun.

5. Curtiss Reed:

   His message is remarkably consistent in that it is devoid of any conversation around race. He is colorblind to an extent that it seems that race is something that is uncomfortable for him to talk about. He is like a lot of Vermonters, it's easy to rattle off statistics, but that's not engaging people of color.

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