- [singular]
the sound that is made by something repeatedly hitting a surface quickly and lightly 吧嗒吧嗒的响声；急速的轻拍声 the patter of rain on the roof 雨打屋顶的啪哒声 the patter of feet/footsteps 哒哒的脚步声 I could hear the pitter-patter of feet in the corridor. 我能听到走廊里脚步声。
- [uncountable, singular]
fast continuous talk by somebody who is trying to sell you something or entertain you （为推销或娱乐的）不间断说话 sales patter 为了推销一口气说的话
Word Originnoun sense 1 early 17th cent.: frequentative of pat (verb). noun sense 2 late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘recite (a prayer, charm, etc.) rapidly’): from paternoster, the Lord's Prayer, especially in Latin. The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.