babble
pronunciation
How to pronounce babble in British English:
UK [ˈbæbl]
How to pronounce babble in American English:
US [ˈbæbl]
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- Noun:
- gibberish resembling the sounds of a baby
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- Verb:
- utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way
- to talk foolishly
- flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise
- divulge confidential information or secrets
Word Origin
- babble (v.)
- mid-13c., babeln "to prattle, chatter," akin to other Western European words for stammering and prattling (cognates: Swedish babbla, Old French babillier) attested from the same era, some of which probably were borrowed from others, but etymologists cannot now determine which were original. Probably imitative of baby-talk, in any case (compare Latin babulus "babbler," Greek barbaros "non-Greek-speaking"). "No direct connexion with Babel can be traced; though association with that may have affected the senses" [OED]. Meaning "to repeat oneself incoherently, speak foolishly" is attested from c. 1400. Related: Babbled; babbler; babbling; babblement.
- babble (n.)
- "idle talk," c. 1500, from babble (v.). In 16c., commonly in reduplicated form bibble-babble.
Example
- 1. Italian has become a horrendous language , a babble invaded by media languages which expresses nothing but merchandise and consumption .
- 2. As the self-control of this skillful actor crumbled he started to babble in sudden outbursts and heard imaginary phones ringing and people knocking at the door .
- 3. When I get nervous , I tend to babble .
- 4. She found that her daughter would run away from her in the supermarket , refused to go to bed until 10 at night , and would walk up to strangers and " babble away " .
- 5. You babble a lot when you want me .