tattle
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tat·tle
(tăt′l)v. tat·tled, tat·tling, tat·tles
v.intr.
1. To reveal the plans or activities of another, especially ones that are secret or improper: tattled on his sister when she snuck out; tattled to his parents about what his sister did.
2. To chatter; prate.
v.tr.
To reveal (something about someone) to another, as through gossiping.
n.
1. Idle talk; chatter; prattle.
2. A tattletale.
[Middle English tatelen, to stammer, probably from Middle Dutch, of imitative origin.]
tat′tling·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
tattle
(ˈtætəl)vb
1. (intr) to gossip about another's personal matters or secrets
2. (tr) to reveal by gossiping: to tattle a person's secrets.
3. (intr) to talk idly; chat
n
4. the act or an instance of tattling
5. a scandalmonger or gossip
[C15 (in the sense: to stammer, hesitate): from Middle Dutch tatelen to prate, of imitative origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tat•tle
(ˈtæt l)v. -tled, -tling,
n. v.i.
1. to tell something secret or private about another, often out of spite.
2. to chatter, prate, or gossip.
v.t. 3. to utter idly; disclose by gossiping.
4. tattle on, to betray by tattling.
n. 5. the act of tattling.
6. idle talk; chatter; gossip.
[1475–85; < dial. Dutch tatelen, akin to Middle Low German tateren]
tat′tling•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
tattle
Past participle: tattled
Gerund: tattling
| Imperative |
|---|
| tattle |
| tattle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. | tattle - disclosing information or giving evidence about another |
| Verb | 1. |  tattle - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantlyblabber, palaver, piffle, prate, prattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, gabble, gibber, blab, clack, maunder, chatter |
| 2. |  tattle - divulge confidential information or secrets; "Be careful--his secretary talks"disclose, let on, divulge, expose, give away, let out, reveal, unwrap, discover, bring out, break - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"; "The actress won't reveal how old she is"; "bring out the truth"; "he broke the news to her"; "unwrap the evidence in the murder case" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
tattle
verb
1. gossip, talk idly I make it a rule not to tattle.
2. tell tales, report, inform, squeal (informal), spill the beans He encourages people to tattle on one another.
noun
1. gossip, hearsay, tittle-tattle, idle talk This was not just idle newspaper tattle.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
tattle
verb1. To engage in or spread gossip:
Idioms: tell tales, tell tales out of school.
1. Idle, often sensational and groundless talk about others:
Slang: scuttlebutt.
2. A person habitually engaged in idle talk about others:
blab, gossip, gossiper, gossipmonger, newsmonger, rumormonger, scandalmonger, tabby, talebearer, taleteller, tattler, tattletale, telltale, whisperer.
Slang: yenta.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
tattle
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995