babble

Noun · Verb

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. gibberish resembling the sounds of a babySynonyms: babblinglallation

Verb (4)

  1. utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way“The old man is only babbling--don't pay attention”
  2. to talk foolishly“The two women babbled and crooned at the baby”Synonyms: blathersmatterbletherblither
  3. flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise“babbling brooks”Synonyms: rippleguggleburblebubblegurgle
  4. divulge confidential information or secrets“Be careful--his secretary talks”Synonyms: spill the beanslet the cat out of the bagtalktattleblabpeachsingbabble outblab out
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Babble \Bab"ble\ (b[a^]b"b'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babbled (b[a^]b"b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Babbling.] [Cf. LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying ba, imitative of a child learning to talk.]

1.To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles. [1913 Webster]

2.To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words. [1913 Webster]

3.To talk much; to chatter; to prate. [1913 Webster]

4.To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones. [1913 Webster]

In every babbling brook he finds a friend.— Wordsworth.[1913 Webster]

Note: Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too noisy after having found a good scent. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip. [1913 Webster]


Babble \Bab"ble\, v. t.

1.To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat, as words, in a childish way without understanding. [1913 Webster]

These [words] he used to babble in all companies.— Arbuthnot.[1913 Webster]

2.To disclose by too free talk, as a secret. [1913 Webster]


Babble \Bab"ble\, n.

1.Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble; twaddle. "This is mere moral babble." --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2.Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur. [1913 Webster]

The babble of our young children.— Darwin.[1913 Webster]
The babble of the stream.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]
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