patter

noun
UK: /ˈpætər/
US: /ˈpætər/

  1. A quick succession of light sounds, like raindrops.

    1. I heard the patter of rain on the roof last night.
    2. The soft patter of his feet indicated he was approaching silently.

Synonyms

taps pit-a-pat scamper scurry babble chatter
patter intransitive-verb

  1. To make a series of quick, light tapping sounds.

    1. Rain patters on the window.
    2. Her fingers patter across the keyboard as she types quickly.

  2. To move with light, quick steps.

    1. The children patter around the house all day.
    2. I could hear her patter down the stairs to greet her friend.
patter transitive-verb

  1. To say something quickly and smoothly, often in a rehearsed or deceptive way.

    1. He pattered an excuse and left quickly.
    2. The salesperson pattered his sales pitch without looking at the customer.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "patter" is /ˈpætər/ in British English and /ˈpætər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "patter": taps, pit-a-pat, scamper, scurry, babble, chatter.

Example usage of "patter": "I heard the patter of rain on the roof last night.". More examples on the page.