Entry 3 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913 Prate · IPA /pɹeɪt/ v. i. v. t. n. 01 v. i. To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble. imp. & p. p. Prated; p. pr. & vb. n. Prating 1. To talk much and to little purpose; to be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble. “To prate and talk for life and honor.” — Shak. “And make a fool presume to prate of love.” — Dryden. 02 v. t. To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble. 1. To utter foolishly; to speak without reason or purpose; to chatter, or babble. “What nonsense would the fool, thy master, prate, When thou, his knave, canst talk at such a rate !” — Dryden. 03 n. Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. 1. Talk to little purpose; trifling talk; unmeaning loquacity. “Sick of tops, and poetry, and prate.” — Pope.