From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpatterpat‧ter1 /ˈpætə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive] CHITif something, especially water, patters, it makes quiet sounds as it keeps hitting a surface lightly and quicklypatter on rain pattering on the window panes→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
patter• He liked rain in September, its calm gray pattering.• I could hear feet shuffling and pattering about upstairs.• A small fountain pattered gently in the big reception hall.• They could hear the rain pattering in the grass and bouncing off the roof of the jeep.• Outside the rain pattered lightly on the window, and in the room there was a great sense of tranquillity.• There was a sound of stir all over the house, pattering of feet in the corridors.• Raindrops were pattering on the car roof.• A few raindrops patter on the roof.• It pattered quietly in the distance, each small wave softly succeeding the next.• And the old fountain, now green with moss and algae, made a sweet, pattering sound.patter on• Rain pattered on the tin roof of the shack.patterpatter2 noun 1 [singular]CHIT the sound made by something as it keeps hitting a surface lightly and quicklypatter of the patter of footsteps the pitter-patter of raindrops2 [singular, uncountable]TALK TO somebody fast, continuous, and usually amusing talk, used by someone telling jokes or trying to sell something It’s difficult to look at the cars without getting the sales patter.3 → the patter of tiny feetExamples from the Corpus
patter• Paula Curry was good at hiding discomfort behind easy patter, but the strain was starting to tell.• My thoughts wandered as the tour guide began his patter.• The tour guide begins his patter on Forty-sixth.• While you are doing this trick it's a good idea to invent a little patter.• a salesman's patter• As I hurried I heard the scrabbling patter of the wolves closing in.• the patter of mice in the attic• It was drizzling very lightly, and I could hear the tiny patter of small raindrops.• Dennis was knocking the stuff back like lager, not even bothering with his usual patter.patter of• the patter of raindropsOrigin patter1 (1600-1700) → PAT2 patter2 1. (1800-1900) → PATTER12. (1700-1800) paternoster name of a Christian prayer ((9-21 centuries)) 