Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A rapid series of light tapping sounds.
- intransitive verb To make or move with a series of light tapping sounds.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Same as
pitapat ; also noting a slighter and quicker beat, as of drops of water.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adverb With, or with the sound of, alternating light beats.
- noun A sound like that of alternating light beats. Also, a pattering of words.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
soft ,percussive sound, as of tiny feet or rain on a rooftop.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb make light, rapid and repeated sounds
- adverb as of footsteps
- adverb describing a rhythmic beating
- noun a series of rapid tapping sounds
- verb rain gently
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The shortcut may be setting yourself up for a trance by entrainment with a metronome-like pitter-patter of a tom-tom drum.
The Bushman Way of Tracking God PhD Bradford Keeney 2010
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Day Seven — I thought I heard the pitter-patter of little feet.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandmothers Jack Canfield 2011
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It's sweet enough to make even the most cynical heart go pitter-patter.
Homemade space video: How to make your son a balloon boy and still be a good dad Melissa Bell 2010
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Jessica Alba is one among an ensemble of talented performers who will make the hearts of couples go pitter-patter this weekend when "Valentine's Day" arrives in theaters.
‘Machete’ Star Steven Seagal Is Not An Actor, He’s A Lawman, Jessica Alba Says » MTV Movies Blog 2010
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Here are five legit reasons the former goofball, currently engaged to actress Kristen Bell, makes our hearts go pitter-patter.
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Why couldn't they pitter-patter around the house, now that I had come home?
Babies Gary Moshimer 2010
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Although it seems that the intention of the video is to make your heart go pitter-patter, I found more value in the discussion it opens up.
Moments 2009
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When I hear my front door open, followed by the pitter-patter of uneven — sometimes clumsy — little steps coming down the hallway toward my home office, I smile.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandmothers Jack Canfield 2011
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Although it seems that the intention of the video is to make your heart go pitter-patter, I found more value in the discussion it opens up.
Moments » E-Mail 2009
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The maggots, starved for oxygen, writhe and jump in the bag, creating a "pitter-patter" sound.
Boing Boing 2009
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