babble
English
/ˈbæb.l̩/
verb
Definitions
- (intransitive) To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds
- (intransitive) To talk incoherently; to utter meaningless words.
- (intransitive) To talk too much; to chatter; to prattle.
- (intransitive) To make a continuous murmuring noise, like shallow water running over stones.
- (transitive) To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat words or sounds in a childish way without understanding.
- (transitive) To reveal; to give away (a secret).
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English babelen inherited from Old English *bæblian inherited from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (chatter) derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰa-bʰa-, *baba- (talk vaguely, mumble).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*baba-
Gloss
talk vaguely, mumble
Concept
Semantic Field
Speech and language
Ontological Category
Action/Process
Emoji
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- Eurobabble English
- astrobabble English
- babblative English
- babblement English
- babbler English
- babblery English
- babblesome English
- babbleth English
- babbly English
- biz English
- bizbabble English
- cyberbabble English
- ecobabble English
- econobabble English
- neurobabble English
- nigger English
- niggerbabble English
- outbabble English
- psychobabble English
- psychobabbler English
- sociobabble English
- technobabble English
- babbelen Dutch, Flemish
- babbelkous Dutch, Flemish
- babbeltruc Dutch, Flemish
- *baba- Proto-Indo-European
- *bʰa-bʰa- Proto-Indo-European
- *bʰā- Proto-Indo-European
- *babalōną Proto-Germanic
- *bō- Proto-Germanic
- *bæblian Old English
- babelen Middle English
- babbla Old Norse
- babla Icelandic
- babbelen Middle Dutch
- *babbalon Old Dutch
- *babon, *babelōn, *babōn Old Dutch
- babbelje Old Frisian
- babbelje Saterland Frisian
- bebla Scanian