v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating. ] [ Akin to LG. & D. praten, Dan. prate, Sw. & Icel. prata. ] To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble. [ 1913 Webster ]

To prate and talk for life and honor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And make a fool presume to prate of love. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble. [ 1913 Webster ]

What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate,
When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate ! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to LG. & D. praat, Sw. prat. ] Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Talkative. [ R. ] W. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who prates. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Pratique. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any bird of the Old World genus Glareola, or family Glareolidæ, allied to the plovers. They have long, pointed wings and a forked tail. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With idle talk; with loquacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F.; cf. It. pratica, Sp. practica. See Practice. ] 1. (Com.) Primarily, liberty of converse; intercourse; hence, a certificate, given after compliance with quarantine regulations, permitting a ship to land passengers and crew; -- a term used particularly in the south of Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Practice; habits. [ Obs. ] “One of English education and pratique.” R. North. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Prattled p. pr. & vb. n. Prattling ] [ Freq. of prate. ] To talk much and idly; to prate; hence, to talk lightly and artlessly, like a child; to utter child's talk. [ 1913 Webster ]