clatter
B2Neutral to informal; common in descriptive and narrative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A loud, rattling sound made by hard objects striking together repeatedly.
A continuous, noisy, and often chaotic sound or commotion; also used figuratively for rapid, noisy talk or activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily onomatopoeic; implies a series of sharp, hard, irregular sounds. Often associated with objects falling, machinery, or hurried movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] clatters[Subject] clatters [Adverbial (e.g., down the stairs)]There was a clatter of [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “clatter about (to move noisily)”
- “clatter down (to fall noisily)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might describe noisy office equipment or a chaotic trading floor.
Academic
Rare; used in descriptive passages in literature or history.
Everyday
Common for describing domestic noises (pans, cutlery) or street sounds.
Technical
Used in acoustics or sound engineering to describe a specific type of noise.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old train clattered along the tracks.
- She clattered the cups into the sink.
American English
- The forklift clattered across the warehouse floor.
- He clattered down the wooden stairs in his boots.
adverb
British English
- The cutlery fell clatteringly to the floor. (rare, literary)
American English
- The typewriter keys went clatteringly fast. (rare, literary)
adjective
British English
- The clattering noise from the building site was unbearable.
- We heard clattering dishes from the kitchen.
American English
- The clattering elevator kept me awake.
- A clattering sound came from the garage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The spoon fell and made a loud clatter.
- I heard a clatter in the kitchen.
- There was a clatter of plates as the waiter dropped his tray.
- The horse's hooves clattered on the cobblestones.
- The constant clatter of construction work made it impossible to concentrate.
- The old printer clattered noisily as it produced the document.
- Amid the clatter of the newsroom, she managed to find a moment of quiet focus.
- The debate clattered on without any substantive conclusions being reached.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound a ladder makes when it falls on a hard floor: CLATTER!
Conceptual Metaphor
NOISE IS A PHYSICAL IMPACT (e.g., 'The news clattered through the office').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'clutter' (беспорядок). 'Clatter' is about sound, not mess.
- The Russian approximate 'греметь' or 'грохотать' can be broader; 'clatter' is more specific to hard, repetitive impacts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'clatter' for a single sound (prefer 'clang' or 'bang').
- Confusing noun and verb forms: 'He made a clatter' (noun) vs. 'The pans clattered' (verb).
Practice
Quiz
Which scenario best exemplifies a 'clatter'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while often metallic, it can describe any hard objects making a repeated, rattling sound (e.g., wooden clogs on stone, hailstones).
Yes, commonly. As a verb, it means to make or cause something to make a clattering sound (e.g., 'The dishes clattered in the sink').
They are close synonyms. 'Clatter' often implies a sharper, harder, more irregular sound from impact, while 'rattle' can be drier, looser, and more continuous (like a baby's rattle).
It is neutral but often has a negative connotation because it describes noise, which is frequently unwanted or associated with accidents or chaos.