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# rattler

noun (a rattler, rattlers) — informal

«rattler» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, US) A rattlesnake: a poisonous snake in the Americas that shakes the rattle on its tail to warn you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#m1)
2. Something that rattles, like a baby's rattle or a noisy old car or train. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#m2)
3. (old, Australia/UK slang) A train, especially an old rattling one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#m3)
4. (informal, old) An excellent or very lively thing: «a rattler of a story». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#m4)

### In the lessons

In nature and safety lessons in the USA and Canada rattlers warn with a buzzing tail; stay back. In stories and westerns rattlers hide in rocks. Phrases: «a western diamondback rattler», «watch out for rattlers».

### Examples

- The hiker froze when she heard the rattler's buzz. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x1)
- Rattlers live in deserts and dry hills in the USA. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x2)
- If you hear a rattler, back away slowly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x3)
- The old bus was a real rattler on the bumpy road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x4)
- Grandpa called the steam train «the old rattler». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x5)
- A rattler shakes its tail to say «Keep away!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/#x6)

### Note

Countable: rattler, rattlers. Informal; the proper name is rattlesnake. Safety: rattlesnake bites need hospital help at once; call 911 and keep the person still. Rattlesnakes live only in the Americas, not in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «rattler» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rattler/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«rattler» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/rattler.html) on Mova free.