Standard Lemma guide

rattling

adj · noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: R AE1 T L IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: R AE1 T AH0 L IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Lively, quick (speech, pace).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

good, fine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, emphatic, intensifier

Examples

  • a rattling good lunch

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

rattle (a sound made by objects shaking or vibrating against one another)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Alternative form of ratline.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

present participle and gerund of rattle

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

quick and energetic

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a brisk walk in the park
  • a lively gait
  • a merry chase
  • traveling at a rattling rate
  • a snappy pace
  • a spanking breeze

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: alert, brisk, lively, merry, snappy, spanking, zippy

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she was very gifted
  • he played very well
  • a really enjoyable evening
  • I'm real sorry about it
  • a rattling good yarn

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: very, really, real

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the death rattle

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rattle, rale

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: noise

Narrower terms: crepitation rale

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Rasseln — a sound made by objects colliding against one another
  • German: Gerassel — a sound made by objects colliding against one another
  • German: Klappern — a sound made by objects colliding against one another
  • German: Geklapper — a sound made by objects colliding against one another
  • Latin: crepitus — a sound made by objects colliding against one another