Definition of "pattering" [pattering]

• Present participle of patter. (verb)
• Groupings of frequent irregularly repeated sounds of moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch. (noun)

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• "Lights fizzing onto the pavement, I felt the rain pattering down by my shoes."
• "Strike the ends of the fingers irregularly on the desk (to imitate the rain pattering on the roof of a building.) 2."
• "I slept soundly for a long time; then I waked up and found that, instead of rain pattering against the roof, and darkness everywhere, it was quite light."