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Definition 2024


poltern

poltern

German

Verb

poltern (third-person singular simple present poltert, past tense polterte, past participle gepoltert, auxiliary haben or sein)

  1. to rumble
    • 1911, Hermann Löns, Der zweckmäßige Meyer, Sponholtz, page 64:
      […] die Straßenbahn polterte wie immer; […]
      the streetcar rumbled as always
    • 1910, Frances Külpe, Rote Tage, S. Schottländers Schlesische Verlagsanstalt, page 184:
      Hastige Schritte poltern die Treppe empor.
      Hasty footsteps rumble up the staircase.
  2. (figuratively) to rant (To speak or shout at length in an uncontrollable anger.)

Usage notes

The auxiliary sein is used if the verb describes a rumbling movement into a direction, otherwise the auxiliary haben is used.

Conjugation

Derived terms

External links