tattle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun disclosing information or giving evidence about another
    telling; singing.
  2. verb speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
    prate; chatter; piffle; gabble; blab; gibber; clack; tittle-tattle; prattle; maunder; palaver; blabber; twaddle.
  3. verb divulge confidential information or secrets
    let the cat out of the bag; peach; babble; spill the beans; babble out; blab out; sing; blab; talk.
    • Be careful--his secretary talks

WordNet

Tat"tle intransitive verb
Etymology
Akin to OE. tateren, LG. tateln, D. tateren to stammer, and perhaps to E. titter.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Tattled ; present participle & verbal noun Tattling
Definitions
  1. To prate; to talk idly; to use many words with little meaning; to chat.
    The tattling quality of age, which is always narrative. Dryden.
  2. To tell tales; to communicate secrets; to be a talebearer; as, a tattling girl.
Tat"tle noun
Definitions
  1. Idle talk or chat; trifling talk; prate.
    [They] told the tattle of the day. Swift.

Webster 1913