Chatting

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃætɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Engaging in informal or casual conversation with others
2. Exchanging light or friendly remarks in a relaxed manner
3. Carrying on a social talk that is easygoing and conversational

Etymology: Chat began as a shortening of "chatter," which is itself imitative: the word tries to copy the rapid, repetitive sounds of talk, much as it copies the twitter of birds. Middle English had "cheteren" and "chiteren" for this noise, and "chatter" grew out of them, so the family of words is built on sound rather than on any ancient borrowed root. The clipped form "chat" appeared later, cut down to its first syllable, and it has a surprising companion. The word "chit," meaning a small piece of paper, is related to it, and the two share a feel of something small and light. Both "chat" and "chatter" also turned up in thieves' cant, the secret slang of underworld speech, so the idea of quick, low-stakes talk had a rougher beginning than its cheerful modern use suggests.

Synonyms: talking, conversing, discussing, chitchatting, communicating

Antonyms: silencing, quieting, muffling, hushing, stopping