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Webster 1913 Edition

Smatter

Smat′ter

,
Verb.
I.
[OE.
smateren
to make a noise; cf. Sw.
smattra
to clatter, to crackle, G.
schmettern
to dash, crash, to warble, quaver.]
1.
To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter.
Of state affairs you can not
smatter
.
Swift.
2.
To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.

Smat′ter

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To talk superficially about.
2.
To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial knowledge of; to smack.
Chaucer.

Smat′ter

,
Noun.
Superficial knowledge; a smattering.

Webster 1828 Edition

Smatter

SMAT'TER

,
Verb.
I.
[It contains the elements of mutter.]
1.
To talk superficially or ignorantly. Of state affairs you cannot smatter.
2.
To have a slight taste, or a slight superficial knowledge.

SMAT'TER

,
Noun.
Slight superficial knowledge.

Definition 2024

smatter

smatter

See also: s'matter

English

Verb

smatter ‎(third-person singular simple present smatters, present participle smattering, simple past and past participle smattered)

  1. (intransitive) To talk superficially; to babble.
    • Jonathan Swift
      Of state affairs you cannot smatter.
  2. (transitive) To speak (a language) with spotty or superficial knowledge.
    to smatter Arabic
  3. (transitive, figuratively) To study or approach superficially; to dabble in.
  4. To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

smatter ‎(plural smatters)

  1. superficial knowledge; a smattering

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English smatteren, smateren. Compare Swedish smattra, Danish and Norwegian smadre (all of which mean to patter), German schmettern ‎(“to resound”).

Pronunciation

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