gab
1 of 3verb
intransitive verb
gab
2 of 3noun (1)
gab
3 of 3noun (2)
Synonyms
Verb
- babble
- blab
- cackle
- chaffer [British]
- chat
- chatter
- chin [slang]
- converse
- gabble
- gas
- jabber
- jaw
- kibitz
- kibbitz
- natter
- palaver
- patter
- prate
- prattle
- rap
- rattle
- run on
- schmooze
- shmooze
- talk
- visit
Noun (1)
- backchat
- cackle
- causerie
- chat
- chatter
- chin music
- chin-wag [slang]
- chitchat
- confab
- confabulation
- gabfest
- gossip
- jangle
- jaw
- natter [chiefly British]
- palaver
- patter
- rap
- schmooze
- small talk
- table talk
- talk
- tête-à-tête
Example Sentences
Word History
Verb
of uncertain origin
Note: Perhaps continuing a divergent sense of Middle English gabben "to speak mockingly, scoff, tell lies" (borrowed from Anglo-French gaber "to mock, sneer at," ultimately from Old Norse gabba) if occurrences in Chaucer, perhaps meaning "to speak foolishly, talk nonsense," are the same verb. However, the scarcity of attestation between Chaucer and the 18th century, when gab appears in Scots, suggests that Modern English gab is a new onomatopoeic formation, akin to gabble.
Noun (1)
derivative of gab entry 1
Noun (2)
by shortening
Verb
1786, in the meaning defined above
Noun (1)
1761, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1939, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing gab
Kids Definition
gab 1 of 2
verb
gab
2 of 2noun
gabbing
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- chatting
- talking
- conversing
- chattering
- nattering
- schmoozing
- jabbering
- jawing
- blabbing
- kibitzing
- gossiping
- discussing
- gabbling
- babbling
- prattling
- rattling
- cackling
- prating
- palavering
- shmoozing
- kibbitzing
- rapping
- twittering
- pattering
- visiting
- chinning
- gassing
- chaffering
- yakking
- blowing smoke
- chewing the rag
- running on
- tattling
- yammering
- yapping
- talking a blue streak
- shooting the breeze
- chewing the fat
- yacking
- expatiating
- descanting
