prate

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /preɪt/ UK /preɪt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like plate /l/ vs /r/ Sounds like plait /l/ vs /r/

Freq #92997

Meanings

1

verb
to talk at length in a foolish, trivial, or tiresome way

The guest continued to prate about matters he scarcely understood.
2

noun
foolish, trivial, or tiresomely prolonged talk

She had no patience for the courtier's empty prate.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to talk at length in a... prattle babble chatter blather

2 noun · foolish, trivial, or... prattle babbleidle talk

Opposites

be silentlisten

Word family

Forms prating

Derived forms praterpratingprattle

Related forms chatter gossip loquacious

Etymology

From Middle English praten, related to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German praten, 'to talk.' The Germanic family carried associations of idle, boastful, or deceptive speech, which remain in the dismissive modern verb and noun.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

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