patter

«patter» in Mova's school dictionary: A quick, light, tapping sound, like rain or small feet — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 3 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (patter, the patter of); verb (patter, patters, pattered, pattering)

meaning for a pupil

1) A quick, light, tapping sound, like rain or small feet. tree →

2) (verb) To make that sound or move with quick light steps. tree →

3) Fast, clever talk used by a salesperson, comedian or magician. tree →

4) (Scotland, informal) Chat and jokes: «He's got great patter.» tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories «the patter of rain» or «the patter of tiny feet» helps the reader hear the scene. In everyday life and safety, a salesman's patter can trick you into buying. Phrases: the patter of rain, the patter of tiny feet, sales patter.

examples

• I love the patter of rain on the roof. tree →
• We heard the patter of the cat's paws. tree →
• Little feet pattered down the hall. tree →
• The magician's patter kept us laughing. tree →
• Don't be fooled by the salesman's patter. tree →
• My uncle in Glasgow has great patter. tree →
• In a few minutes they heard the pattering of tiny feet, and many of the small gray mice came running up to her. tree →

note

Regular verb: pattered. Do not confuse with «pattern» or «potter». Uncountable as «talk».

In the corpora

• I've done with him!» — but Toad came pattering after them.
• Then the pattering begins: little feet, closing in from every side like hail.
• "The patter of tiny feet" means a baby that is expected or wanted (jokey).

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «patter» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.