rattle.
To create a rattling sound by shaking or striking.
Meaning & usage
To create a rattling sound by shaking or striking.
to rattle a chain
Rattle the can of cat treats if you need to find Fluffy.
To scare, startle, unsettle, or unnerve.
To make a rattling noise; to make noise by or from shaking.
I wish the dashboard in my car would quit rattling.
To assail, annoy, or stun with a rattling noise.
To scold; to rail at.
To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering.
We rattled along for a couple of miles.
To make a clatter with one's voice; to talk rapidly and idly; often with on or away.
She rattled on for an hour.
To experience withdrawal from drugs.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.
Object that rattles. Any of various plants of the genera Rhinanthus and Pedicularis, whose seeds produce a rattling noise in the wind.
Object that rattles. A baby’s toy designed to make sound when shaken, usually containing loose grains or pellets in a hollow container.
Object that rattles. A musical instrument that makes a rattling sound.
Object that rattles. A device which produces a loud rattling sound, especially one having a ratchet mechanism and spun round on a handle.
Object that rattles. The set of rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail which produce a rattling sound.
The rattle of the rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and modified in form so as to make a series of loose, hollow joints.
Rattling sound. A rapid succession of percussive sounds, as made by loose objects shaking or vibrating against one another.
I wish they would fix the rattle under my dashboard.
Rattling sound. Noisy, rapid talk; babble.
Rattling sound. Trivial chatter; gossip.
Rattling sound. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer.
Rattling sound. A scolding; a sharp rebuke.
Rattling sound. A rough noise produced in the throat by air passing through obstructed airways; croup; a death rattle.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.
Alternative form of rottol: a former Middle Eastern and North African unit of dry weight usually equal to 1–5 lb (0.5–2.5 kg).
Where this word comes from
From Arabic رَطْل (raṭl), variant of classical رِطْل (riṭl), ultimately from Ancient Greek λίτρα (lítra). Doublet of liter.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.