babbling

Everyday

1. Babbling is talking quickly in a silly, excited or confusing way, so it is hard to understand or not very sensible. tree →
2. Babbling is the sound babies make — «ba-ba-ba, da-da» — before they can say real words. tree →
3. A babbling brook or stream makes a soft, bubbling, continuous sound as water runs over stones. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on growing up, babbling is a stage of learning to talk, at about 6–9 months. In stories, «a babbling brook» is a peaceful countryside image, and a babbling character is nervous or over-excited. Everyday: «Stop babbling and tell me what happened!»

Examples

• The baby was babbling happily in her cot. tree →
• He was so nervous he started babbling. tree →
• We sat beside a babbling brook. tree →
• Stop babbling and tell me slowly. tree →
• Babbling is how babies practise sounds. tree →
• The excited children were babbling about the trip. tree →
• I could hear the stream babbling under the bridge. tree →

Note

From «babble» (drop the e: babbling). Usually a little rude about grown-ups or older children, but kind about babies and streams. Similar: chatter, gabble, prattle.