patter

noun

/ˈpætə(r)/

/ˈpætər/

Idioms

[singular] the sound that is made by something repeatedly hitting a surface quickly and lightly吧嗒吧嗒的响声；急速的轻拍声
- the patter of rain on the roof雨打屋顶的啪哒声
- the patter of feet/footsteps哒哒的脚步声
- I could hear the pitter-patter of feet in the corridor.我能听到走廊里脚步声。
[uncountable, singular] fast continuous talk by somebody who is trying to sell you something or entertain you（为推销或娱乐的）不间断说话
- sales patter为了推销一口气说的话

词源noun sense 1 early 17th cent.: frequentative of pat (verb). noun sense 2 late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘recite (a prayer, charm, etc.) rapidly’): from paternoster, the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin. The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

Idioms

the patter of tiny feet

(informal or humorous) a way of referring to children when somebody wants, or is going to have, a baby（用于想要或即将有孩子时）小宝宝的脚步声
- We can't wait to hear the patter of tiny feet.我们恨不得早点儿有个小宝宝。

patter

verb

/ˈpætə(r)/

/ˈpætər/

动词形式

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/

[intransitive] + adv./prep. to make quick, light sounds as a surface is being hit several times发出轻快的拍打声
- Rain pattered against the window.雨点啪哒啪哒地敲击着窗子。
Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- gently
- lightly
- softly
- …
preposition
- across
- against
- along
- …
[intransitive] + adv./prep. to walk with light steps in a particular direction轻盈地走
- I heard her feet pattering along the corridor.我听到她步履轻盈地在走廊上走过。
- Footsteps pattered across the floor.地板上有啪嗒啪嗒的脚步声跑过。
Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- gently
- lightly
- softly
- …
preposition
- across
- against
- along
- …

词源verb early 17th cent.: frequentative of pat (verb).