Word Frequency
babble (ˈbæbəl
)
Definitions
verb
- to utter (words, sounds, etc) in an incoherent or indistinct jumble
- intr to talk foolishly, incessantly, or irrelevantly
- tr to disclose (secrets, confidences, etc) carelessly or impulsively
- intr (of streams, birds, etc) to make a low murmuring or bubbling sound
noun
- incoherent or foolish speech; chatter
- a murmuring or bubbling sound
Derived Forms
ˈbabblement nounˈbabbling noun, adjective
Word Origin
C13: compare Dutch babbelen, Swedish babbla, French babiller to prattle, Latin babulus fool; probably all of imitative originTranslations for 'babble'
- British English: babble If someone babbles, they talk in a confused or excited way. VERBMum babbled on and on about how he was ruining me.I babbled my request.
- Brazilian Portuguese: falar de modo ininteligível
- Chinese: 含糊不清地说含糊不清地说說
- European Spanish: farfullar
- French: babiller
- German: schwatzen
- Italian: blaterare
- Japanese: ペチャクチャしゃべる
- Korean: 횡설수설하다
- Portuguese: falar de modo ininteligível
- Spanish: farfullar
- British English: babble You can refer to people's voices as a babble of sound when they are excited and confused, preventing you from understanding what they are saying. NOUNKemp knocked loudly so as to be heard above the high babble of voices.
- Brazilian Portuguese: balbucio
- Chinese: 嘈杂的说话声嘈嘈杂雜的说說话話声聲
- European Spanish: murmullo
- French: brouhaha
- German: Geplapper
- Italian: blateramento
- Japanese: がやがやいう話し声
- Korean: 횡설수설
- Portuguese: balbucio
- Spanish: murmullo
Example Sentences Including 'babble'
Anyone who prefers this quasi-scientific babble to the Acts of the Apostles is welcome to it.Glasgow Herald (2001)
As pseudoscientific babble goes, it stands as the model of desperate improvisation for technological solutions.Irish Times (2002)
At the sight of Rhodry they began to curse and shout in a babble of languages, but though they threatened, they never came closer.A Time of War
Babies exposed to sign language babble with their hands, even if they are not deaf.New Scientist (2004)
Google has become an increasingly valuable search tool; Techno babbleTimes, Sunday Times (2002)
His machine answered, requesting her to leave a message, and she tried to talk coherently, not to babble.THE GREENSTONE GRAIL: The Sangreal Trilogy One (2004)
Listen to finches twitter over the babble of the waterfalls - a great tonic for the winter blues.Edmonton Sun (2003)
The first exclamations of shock followed him, a bellow of surprised rage, the babble of momentary panic.The Last Raven
There was a silence here far more melancholy than any to be found in the fevered babble taking place in the streets.DEVASTATING EDEN: The Search for Utopia in America (2004)
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