CHIT-CHAT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chit-chat mean? 

• CHIT-CHAT (noun)
  The noun CHIT-CHAT has 1 sense:

1. light informal conversation for social occasions

  Familiarity information: CHIT-CHAT used as a noun is very rare.

• CHIT-CHAT (verb)
  The verb CHIT-CHAT has 1 sense:

1. talk socially without exchanging too much information

  Familiarity information: CHIT-CHAT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHIT-CHAT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Light informal conversation for social occasions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

causerie; chin-wag; chin-wagging; chin wag; chin wagging; chit-chat; chit chat; chitchat; gab; gabfest; gossip; small talk; tittle-tattle

Hypernyms ("chit-chat" is a kind of...):

chat; confab; confabulation; schmoose; schmooze (an informal conversation)

Derivation:

chitchat (talk socially without exchanging too much information)

• CHIT-CHAT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Talk socially without exchanging too much information

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

chaffer; chat; chatter; chew the fat; chit-chat; chitchat; claver; confab; confabulate; gossip; jaw; natter; shoot the breeze; visit

Context example:

the men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze

Hypernyms (to "chit-chat" is one way to...):

converse; discourse (carry on a conversation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "chit-chat"):

jawbone; schmoose; schmooze; shmoose; shmooze (talk idly or casually and in a friendly way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

On this rencontre they all returned to the house together, there to lounge away the time as they could with sofas, and chit-chat, and Quarterly Reviews, till the return of the others, and the arrival of dinner.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)