rattle
Noun:
- A series of short, sharp, percussive sounds: A "rattle" is a rapid succession of short, loud, clattering noises.
- A baby's toy: A "rattle" is a toy for infants that makes a shaking noise when moved.
- A part of a rattlesnake's tail: The "rattle" is the segmented, horny structure at the end of a rattlesnake's tail that produces a buzzing sound when vibrated.
- A sound indicating a medical condition: In medicine, a "rattle" can refer to a specific sound heard in some respiratory disorders.
Verb:
- To make a series of short, sharp sounds: To "rattle" means to shake and cause a quick succession of knocking or clattering noises.
- To cause something to make such sounds: To "rattle" an object is to shake it so it produces these noises.
- To move with such sounds: To "rattle" can describe something moving while making these noises.
- To disconcert or fluster someone: To "rattle" a person means to make them nervous, upset, or confused.
Noun:
- The rattle of the old train kept me awake. (The series of clattering sounds from the train was disruptive.)
- The baby was fascinated by the colorful rattle. (The toy that makes noise when shaken held the baby's attention.)
- We heard the warning rattle of the snake. (The sound from the snake's tail served as a warning.)
Verb:
- The strong wind rattled the windows. (The wind caused the windows to shake and make noise.)
- The old car rattled down the dirt road. (The car moved noisily down the road.)
- The unexpected question rattled the speaker. (The question upset or flustered the speaker.)
"Death rattle": A gurgling or rattling sound sometimes produced by a person who is near death, caused by air passing through accumulated mucus.
- The nurse recognized the death rattle in the patient's breathing.
"Sabre-rattling": The display or threat of military force, often as an act of political intimidation.
- The diplomat dismissed the enemy's maneuvers as mere sabre-rattling.
Rattler (n): An informal term for a rattlesnake.
- Be careful hiking; there are rattlers in this canyon.
Rattling (adj/adv): Used for emphasis, meaning very or extremely.
- He gave a rattling good speech. (He gave an extremely good speech.)
Rattletrap (n): An old, noisy, and dilapidated vehicle.
- My first car was a real rattletrap.
- Clatter (n/v): A continuous rattling sound; to make such a sound.
- Jangle (n/v): A harsh, metallic ringing or clashing sound.
- Fluster (v): To make someone agitated or confused (for the verb meaning 'to disconcert').
Rattle off: To say or recite something very quickly and easily.
- She can rattle off all the state capitals without thinking.
Rattle on: To talk continuously in a lively but often trivial way.
- He rattled on about his vacation for an hour.
Rattle through: To do or say something very quickly.
- We rattled through the agenda to finish the meeting early.
Rattle someone's cage: To deliberately annoy or provoke someone.
- Ignore him; he's just trying to rattle your cage.
Rattle sabres: To threaten or display aggression, especially militarily. (See "sabre-rattling" in Advanced Usage).
- The general warned against other nations coming to rattle sabres on their border.
- loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail
- a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken
- a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
- the death rattle
- shake and cause to make a rattling noise
- make short successive sounds