PITTER-PATTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pitter-patter mean? 

• PITTER-PATTER (noun)
  The noun PITTER-PATTER has 1 sense:

1. a series of rapid tapping sounds

  Familiarity information: PITTER-PATTER used as a noun is very rare.

• PITTER-PATTER (verb)
  The verb PITTER-PATTER has 2 senses:

1. rain gently

2. make light, rapid and repeated sounds

  Familiarity information: PITTER-PATTER used as a verb is rare.

• PITTER-PATTER (adverb)
  The adverb PITTER-PATTER has 2 senses:

1. as of footsteps

2. describing a rhythmic beating

  Familiarity information: PITTER-PATTER used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PITTER-PATTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A series of rapid tapping sounds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

she missed the pitter-patter of little feet around the house

Hypernyms ("pitter-patter" is a kind of...):

pat; rap; tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)

Derivation:

pitter-patter (make light, rapid and repeated sounds)

• PITTER-PATTER (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rain gently

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

patter; pitter-patter; spatter; spit; sprinkle

Context example:

It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick

Hypernyms (to "pitter-patter" is one way to...):

rain; rain down (precipitate as rain)

Sentence frame:

It is ----ing

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make light, rapid and repeated sounds

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

patter; pitter-patter

Context example:

gently pattering rain

Hypernyms (to "pitter-patter" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

pitter-patter (a series of rapid tapping sounds)

• PITTER-PATTER (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

As of footsteps

Synonyms:

pit-a-pat; pitter-patter; pitty-pat; pitty-patty

Context example:

he came running pit-a-pat down the hall

Sense 2

Meaning:

Describing a rhythmic beating

Synonyms:

pit-a-pat; pitter-patter; pitty-pat; pitty-patty

Context example:

his heart went pit-a-pat