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Babbling: meaning, definitions and examples

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babbling

 

[ ˈbab(ə)lɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in speech

Talking rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way.

Synonyms

jabbering, prattling, rambling

Examples of usage

  • She was babbling on about her new job.
  • The baby was babbling happily to himself.
Context #2 | Noun

in water

The sound of flowing water, typically a brook or a stream.

Synonyms

gurgling, murmuring, rippling

Examples of usage

  • The babbling brook created a peaceful atmosphere.
  • We could hear the gentle babbling of the stream.

Translations

Translations of the word "babbling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 balbucio

🇮🇳 बड़बड़ाहट

🇩🇪 Gebrabbel

🇮🇩 ocehan

🇺🇦 бурмотіння

🇵🇱 mamrotanie

🇯🇵 おしゃべり

🇫🇷 bafouillage

🇪🇸 balbuceo

🇹🇷 mırıldanma

🇰🇷 옹알이

🇸🇦 ثرثرة

🇨🇿 žvatlání

🇸🇰 bľabotanie

🇨🇳 咿呀学语

🇸🇮 brbljanje

🇮🇸 babbl

🇰🇿 былдырлау

🇬🇪 ბუტბუტი

🇦🇿 mızıldama

🇲🇽 balbuceo

Etymology

The word 'babbling' originated from Middle English 'babelen', which in turn came from Middle Dutch 'babbeln' meaning 'to talk foolishly'. The sense of 'flowing water' was added in the 16th century. Over time, the word has retained its original meaning in speech while also adopting a new meaning related to water sounds.

See also: babbler.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,359, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.