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Added 9 October 2026

patter

/ˈpæt.ə/ noun

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about patter at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson).
A quick succession of light rapid sounds.
the patter of mice

verb

Rain gently.
It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick
Make light, rapid and repeated sounds.
gently pattering rain

Origin

1610s, pat + -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)”), of (onomatopoeia) origin.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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