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PITTER-PATTER
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A series of rapid tapping sounds
Example:
she missed the pitter-patter of little feet around the house
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("pitter-patter" is a kind of...):
pat; rap; tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)
Derivation:
pitter-patter (make light, rapid and repeated sounds)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make light, rapid and repeated sounds
Example:
gently pattering rain
Synonyms:
patter; pitter-patter
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "pitter-patter" is one way to...):
go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Derivation:
pitter-patter (a series of rapid tapping sounds)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Rain gently
Example:
It has only sprinkled, but the roads are slick
Synonyms:
patter; pitter-patter; spatter; spit; sprinkle
Classified under:
Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering
Hypernyms (to "pitter-patter" is one way to...):
rain; rain down (precipitate as rain)
Sentence frame:
It is ----ing
III. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Describing a rhythmic beating
Example:
his heart went pit-a-pat
Synonyms:
pit-a-pat; pitter-patter; pitty-pat; pitty-patty
Classified under:
Sense 2
Meaning:
As of footsteps
Example:
he came running pit-a-pat down the hall
Synonyms:
pit-a-pat; pitter-patter; pitty-pat; pitty-patty
Classified under:
