smatter (redirected from smatters)

smat·ter  (smtr)

v. smat·tered, smat·ter·ing, smat·ters

v.tr.

1. To speak (a language) without fluency: smatters Russian.

2. To study or approach superficially; dabble in.

v.intr.

To prattle: smattered on about her vacation.

n.

A smattering.

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[Middle English smateren, to make dirty, speak foolishly, chatter.]

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smatter·er n.

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smatter [ˈsmætə]

n

a smattering

vb

1. (intr) Rare to prattle

2. (tr) Archaic to dabble in

[C14 (in the sense: to prattle): of uncertain origin; compare Middle High German smetern to gossip]

smatterer  n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	smatter - work with in an amateurish manner; "She dabbles in astronomy"; "He plays around with investments but he never makes any money" play around, dabble busy, occupy - keep busy with; "She busies herself with her butterfly collection"
	2.	smatter - to talk foolishly; "The two women babbled and crooned at the baby" blather, blether, blither, babble blabber, palaver, piffle, prate, prattle, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, gabble, gibber, blab, clack, maunder, chatter - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
	3.	smatter - speak with spotty or superficial knowledge; "She smatters Russian" speak, talk - use language; "the baby talks already"; "the prisoner won't speak"; "they speak a strange dialect"