The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prate \Prate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Prating.] [Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel.
   prata.]
   To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to
   speak foolishly; to babble.
   [1913 Webster]

         To prate and talk for life and honor.    --Shak.
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         And make a fool presume to prate of love. --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prate \Prate\, v. t.
   To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to
   chatter, or babble.
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         What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate,
         When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate !
                                                  --Dryden.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Prate \Prate\, n. [Akin to LG. & D. praat, Sw. prat.]
   Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity.
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         Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate.     --Pope.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

prate
    n 1: idle or foolish and irrelevant talk [syn: prate,
         prattle, idle talk, blether, chin music]
    v 1: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
         [syn: chatter, piffle, palaver, prate, tittle-
         tattle, twaddle, clack, maunder, prattle, blab,
         gibber, tattle, blabber, gabble]