verb
rattle
RA-tuhl
verb
1
To make a rapid series of short, sharp knocking sounds by shaking or being shaken.
"The old windows rattled every time a truck passed."
"She rattled the tin to see if any coins were left inside."
2
To unsettle or unnerve someone, making them lose composure.
"The tough question clearly rattled the candidate."
"Don't let his sarcasm rattle you."
noun
1
A baby's toy that makes a shaking noise, or any object that produces that kind of noise.
"She shook the rattle to soothe the crying baby."
2
A rapid series of short, sharp sounds.
"A rattle from the engine told him something was loose."
How to Use Rattle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short, sharp shaking noise — or, as a verb, to make that noise, or to fluster someone.
Common pairings
rattle the windows
baby rattle
rattle someone's nerves
a rattle in the engine
Word Forms
rattled past tense, rattles plural, rattles singular
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Etymology
From Middle English ratelen, likely echoing the sound itself (imitative), related to an Old English word for a rustling plant.