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patter
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As a noun, patter means a soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface. As a verb, it means make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.
Meanings of patter
12 meaningsnoun
A soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface.
“I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.”
Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
One who pats.
Plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
Similar: spiel, line of gabA quick succession of light rapid sounds
“the patter of mice”
“the patter of tiny feet”
verb
To make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.
“The bullets pattered into the log-cabin walls.”
To spatter; to sprinkle.
To speak glibly and rapidly, as does an auctioneer or a sports commentator.
Older and rare meanings (3)
obsoleteTo repeat the Lord's Prayer.
obsoleteTo pray.
obsoleteTo repeat hurriedly; to mutter.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).