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