For babies:
* The repetitive sounds babies make as they learn to speak: This is often called "pre-linguistic babbling" and is considered a crucial stage in language development. It involves making sounds like "ba-ba-ba" or "da-da-da" and is a precursor to forming actual words.
For adults:
* Speaking in a meaningless or incoherent way: This could be due to being very excited, nervous, or intoxicated. For example, "She was babbling on about her trip to Paris, but I couldn't understand a word she said."
* Talking excessively without much substance: This often refers to talking about unimportant or trivial things. For example, "The two of them were just babbling about the weather for hours."
Other uses:
* A stream or brook making a murmuring sound: For example, "The babbling brook provided a soothing sound as we walked through the forest."
* A sound made by a machine: For example, "The engine of the car was babbling like a confused child."
The specific meaning of "babbling" is usually clear from the context.