quaver

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Quaver is a situation where your voice shakes, trembles or expresses uncertainty.

(verb)

If you are about to give a speech and you are really nervous and your voice trembles instead of coming out clear and strong, this is an example of a time when your voice quavers.

The definition of a quaver is a shake or tremble in your voice.

(noun)

If you are about to give a speech and are really nervous and your voice comes out shaky, the shake in your voice is an example of a quaver.

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See quaver in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

  1. to shake or tremble
  2. to be tremulous: said of the voice
  3. Music to make a trill or trills in singing or playing

Origin: ME quaveren, freq. of Early ME cwafien, to shake, tremble < OE *cwafian, prob. < IE base *gwēbh-, wobbly, flabby, tadpole > Ger quappe & Du kwabbe, tadpole

transitive verb

  1. to utter in a tremulous voice
  2. Music to sing or play with a trill or trills

noun

  1. a tremulous quality in a voice or tone
  2. Brit. eighth note

Related Forms:

See quaver in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb qua·vered, qua·ver·ing, qua·vers
verb, intransitive
  1. To quiver, as from weakness; tremble.
  2. To speak in a quivering voice; utter a quivering sound.
  3. Music To produce a trill on an instrument or with the voice.
verb, transitive
To utter or sing in a trilling voice.
noun
  1. A quivering sound.
  2. A trill.
  3. Chiefly British An eighth note.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English quaveren

Origin: , probably frequentative of cwavien, quaven, to tremble

.

Related Forms:

  • quaˈver·ing·ly adverb
  • quaˈver·y adjective

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© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.