Hypertext Webster Gateway: "babble"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Babble \Bab"ble\, v. i.
1. To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat, as
words, in a childish way without understanding.
These [words] he used to babble in all companies.
--Arbuthnot.
2. To disclose by too free talk, as a secret.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Babble \Bab"ble\, n.
1. Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble; twaddle. ``This is
mere moral babble.'' --Milton.
2. Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
The babble of our young children. --Darwin.
The babble of the stream. --Tennyson.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Babble \Bab"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Babbled} (?);p. pr. & vb.
n. {Babbling}.] [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln,
bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep
saying ba, imitative of a child learning to talk.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter
inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles.
2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words.
3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate.
4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water
running over stones.
In every babbling he finds a friend. --Wordsworth.
Note: Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they
are too noisy after having found a good scent.
Syn: To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
babble
n : gibberish resembling the sounds of a baby [syn: {babbling},
{lallation}]
v 1: utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an
incoherent way; "The old man is only babbling--don't pay
attention"
2: to talk foolishly; "The two women babbled and crooned at
the baby" [syn: {blather}, {smatter}, {blether}, {blither}]
3: flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise, as of
water; "babbling brooks" [syn: {ripple}, {guggle}, {burble},
{bubble}, {gurgle}]
4: divulge information or secrets; spill the beans; "Be
careful--his secretary talks" [syn: {talk}, {tattle}, {blab},
{peach}, {sing}, {babble out}, {blab out}] [ant: {keep
quiet}]
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