babble

Everyday

1. To talk quickly in a way that is hard to understand or silly: «She babbled about her holiday.» tree →
2. (of a baby) To make speech-like sounds before real words: «ba-ba-ba». tree →
3. (of water) To make a soft, bubbling sound: «a babbling brook». tree →
4. (noun) A noise of many voices at once, or silly talk. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on growing up, babbling is a stage when babies practise sounds before talking. In stories and poems a «babbling brook» is a gentle stream. In the Bible the Tower of Babel story is often linked (by sound) to «babble». Phrases: «babble on», «a babble of voices», «babbling brook».

Examples

• The baby babbled happily in her cot. tree →
• Stop babbling and tell me what happened! tree →
• We sat by a babbling brook. tree →
• A babble of voices filled the canteen. tree →
• He babbled on about his new game for ages. tree →
• Babies babble before they say their first word. tree →
• Then broke forth a rippling, laughing babble among the cone-shaped teepees. tree →

Note

Double b in the middle, one l: babble, babbled, babbling. Do not confuse with «bubble». Babbling is not rude for babies, but saying someone «babbles» can sound unkind.