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Definition of patter verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

patter

verb
 
/ˈpætə(r)/
 
/ˈpætər/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they patter
 
/ˈpætə(r)/
 
/ˈpætər/
he / she / it patters
 
/ˈpætəz/
 
/ˈpætərz/
past simple pattered
 
/ˈpætəd/
 
/ˈpætərd/
past participle pattered
 
/ˈpætəd/
 
/ˈpætərd/
-ing form pattering
 
/ˈpætərɪŋ/
 
/ˈpætərɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to make quick, light sounds as a surface is being hit several times
    • Rain pattered against the window.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gently
    • lightly
    • softly
    • …
    preposition
    • across
    • against
    • along
    • …
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to walk with light steps in a particular direction
    • I heard her feet pattering along the corridor.
    • Footsteps pattered across the floor.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gently
    • lightly
    • softly
    • …
    preposition
    • across
    • against
    • along
    • …
    See full entry
    3. Word Originverb early 17th cent.: frequentative of pat (verb).
See patter in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: patter

Nearby words

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