rattling

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
rattling
    adv 1: used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally
           for `really'; `rattling' is informal; "she was very
           gifted"; "he played very well"; "a really enjoyable
           evening"; "I'm real sorry about it"; "a rattling good
           yarn" [syn: {very}, {really}, {real}, {rattling}]
    adj 1: extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as
           intensifiers; "a fantastic trip to the Orient"; "the film
           was fantastic!"; "a howling success"; "a marvelous
           collection of rare books"; "had a rattling conversation
           about politics"; "a tremendous achievement" [syn:
           {fantastic}, {grand}, {howling(a)}, {marvelous},
           {marvellous}, {rattling(a)}, {terrific}, {tremendous},
           {wonderful}, {wondrous}]
    2: quick and energetic; "a brisk walk in the park"; "a lively
       gait"; "a merry chase"; "traveling at a rattling rate"; "a
       snappy pace"; "a spanking breeze" [syn: {alert}, {brisk},
       {lively}, {merry}, {rattling}, {snappy}, {spanking}, {zippy}]
    n 1: a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with
         a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders); "the
         death rattle" [syn: {rattle}, {rattling}, {rale}]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Rattle \Rat"tle\ (r[a^]t"t'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Rattled}
   (-t'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Rattling} (-tl[i^]ng).] [Akin to D.
   ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hr[ae]tele a rattle, in
   hr[ae]telwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai`nein to swing, wave.
   Cf. {Rail} a bird.]
   1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises,
      as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies
      shaken together; to clatter.
      [1913 Webster]

            And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

            'T was but the wind,
            Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. --Byron.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as,
      we rattled along for a couple of miles. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To make a clatter with the voice; to talk rapidly and
      idly; to clatter; -- with on or away; as, she rattled on
      for an hour. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]
    

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