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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Origin: | Probably from Middle Low German ratelen |
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rat‧tle1
1
[intransitive and transitive] if you rattle something, or if it rattles, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds : 
Dan banged on her door and rattled the handle.The window rattled in the wind. Bottles rattled as he stacked the beer crates. ➔ see usage note shake1
[intransitive and transitive]Dan banged on her door and rattled the handle.The window rattled in the wind.Bottles rattled as he stacked the beer crates.2 [intransitive] if a vehicle rattles somewhere, it travels there while making a rattling sound
rattle along/past/over etc The cart rattled along the stony road. An old blue van rattled into view.
The cart rattled along the stony road.An old blue van rattled into view.3 [transitive] informal to make someone lose confidence or become nervous : His mocking smile rattled her more than his anger. His confidence was rattled by the accident.
His mocking smile rattled her more than his anger.His confidence was rattled by the accident.rattle around
phrasal verbrattle something ↔ off
phrasal verbChris rattled off some statistics about the teams.rattle on
phrasal verbrattle through something
phrasal verbrattle up something
phrasal verbThe West Indies had rattled up 411 for 5 when rain stopped play.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
shake, wobble, rattle, vibrate, tremble, shiverShake is a fairly general word. It can be used to talk about objects moving • There was a loud bang and the building shook. It can also be used to talk about people's bodies moving because of cold, strong emotion, or illness • Mary shook with rage. If something wobbles, it moves from side to side because it is not steady or balanced • The desk wobbles when you put anything on it.If something hard rattles, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds • The wind blew and the windows rattled.If something vibrates, it makes small quick regular movements that you can hear or feel • The engine began to vibrate.If someone trembles, their body shakes with very small movements, especially because they are angry, afraid, or excited • Trembling, she approached him.If someone shivers, their body shakes with small movements, especially because they are cold or frightened • We sat shivering under a blanket. ➔ See also shake
WORD CHOICE: shake, wobble, rattle, vibrate, tremble, shiverShake is a fairly general word. It can be used to talk about objects moving • There was a loud bang and the building shook. It can also be used to talk about people's bodies moving because of cold, strong emotion, or illness • Mary shook with rage. If something wobbles, it moves from side to side because it is not steady or balanced • The desk wobbles when you put anything on it.If something hard rattles, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds • The wind blew and the windows rattled.If something vibrates, it makes small quick regular movements that you can hear or feel • The engine began to vibrate.If someone trembles, their body shakes with very small movements, especially because they are angry, afraid, or excited • Trembling, she approached him.If someone shivers, their body shakes with small movements, especially because they are cold or frightened • We sat shivering under a blanket. ➔ See also shake
