Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense quavers, present participle quavering, past tense, past participle quavered
1. verb
If someone's voice quavers, it sounds unsteady, usually because they are nervous or uncertain.
Her voice quavered and she fell silent. [VERB]
Synonyms: tremble, shake, quiver, thrill More Synonyms of quaver
Quaver is also a noun.
There was a quaver in Beryl's voice. [+ in]
2. countable noun
A quaver is a musical note that is half as long as a crotchet.
[mainly British]regional note: in AM, use eighth note
Synonyms: trembling, break, shake, sob More Synonyms of quaver
quaver in British English
(ˈkweɪvə)
verb
1.
to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
2. (intransitive)
(esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
3. (intransitive) rare
to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills
noun
4. music
a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve
Usual US and Canadian name: eighth note
5.
a tremulous sound or note
Derived forms
quaverer (ˈquaverer)
noun
quavering (ˈquavering)
adjective
quaveringly (ˈquaveringly)
adverb
quavery (ˈquavery)
adjective
Word origin
C15 (in the sense: to vibrate, quiver1): from quaven to tremble, of Germanic origin; compare Low German quabbeln to tremble
quaver in American English
(ˈkweɪvər)
verb intransitive
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
verb transitive
4.
to utter in a tremulous voice
5. Music
to sing or play with a trill or trills
noun
6.
a tremulous quality in a voice or tone
7. British
eighth note
Derived forms
quaverer (ˈquaverer)
noun
quaveringly (ˈquaveringly)
adverb
quavery (ˈquavery)
adjective
Word 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
Examples of 'quaver' in a sentence
quaver
To me, it feels quite tentative with quavering voice asking big questions needing even bigger answers.
The Sun (2009)
The lights dimmed and a man began a long, quavering chant.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She also has a teeny-tiny musical quaver tattooed on her neck.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
On a black piano sits sheet music with crotchets, quavers and phrases in pencil.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Word lists with
quaver
America, note
In other languages
quaver
British English: quaver VERB
If someone's voice quavers, it sounds unsteady, usually because they are nervous or uncertain.
Her voice quavered and she fell silent.
American English: quaver
Brazilian Portuguese: tremer
Chinese: 发颤
European Spanish: temblar
French: trembler
German: zittern
Italian: tremolare
Japanese: 震える
Korean: >떨리다무서움에
European Portuguese: tremer
Latin American Spanish: temblar
(verb)
Definition
(esp. of the voice) to quiver or tremble
Her voice quavered and she fell silent.
Synonyms
tremble
He began to tremble all over.
shake
I stood there, crying and shaking with fear.
quiver
His bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down his cheeks.
thrill
quake
Her shoulders quaked.
shudder
She shuddered with cold.
flicker
Her eyelids flickered then opened.
flutter
a butterfly fluttering its wings
waver
The shadows of the dancers wavered on the wall.
vibrate
Her whole body seemed to vibrate with terror.
pulsate
The racing beat of her heart pulsated under my fingertips.
oscillate
The needle indicating volume was oscillating wildly.
trill
twitter
(noun)
Definition
a tremulous sound or note
Synonyms
trembling
break
shake
blurring of photos caused by camera shake
sob
tremble
I'll never forget the tremble in his hand.
throb
tremor
He felt a tremor in his arm.
quiver
I felt a quiver of panic.
vibration
The vibration dislodged the pins from the plane's rudder.
trill
warble
the soft warble of her speaking voice
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flicker
Definition
to move quickly to and fro
Her eyelids flickered then opened.
Synonyms
flutter,
waver,
quiver,
vibrate
in the sense of flutter
Definition
to wave rapidly
a butterfly fluttering its wings
Synonyms
beat,
bat,
flap,
tremble,
shiver,
flicker,
ripple,
waver,
fluctuate,
agitate,
ruffle,
quiver,
vibrate,
palpitate
in the sense of oscillate
Definition
to swing repeatedly back and forth
The needle indicating volume was oscillating wildly.
Synonyms
fluctuate,
swing,
vary,
sway,
waver,
veer,
rise and fall,
vibrate,
undulate,
go up and down,
seesaw
Nearby words of
quaver
quarters
quash
quasi-
quaver
quay
queasy
queen
Synonyms of 'quaver'
quaver
Explore 'quaver' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pulsate
Definition
to expand and contract rhythmically, like a heartbeat
The racing beat of her heart pulsated under my fingertips.
Synonyms
throb,
pound,
beat,
hammer,
pulse,
tick,
thump,
quiver,
vibrate,
thud,
palpitate
in the sense of quake
Definition
to shudder because of instability
Her shoulders quaked.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
quiver,
move,
rock,
shiver,
throb,
shudder,
wobble,
waver,
vibrate,
pulsate,
quail,
totter,
convulse
in the sense of quiver
Definition
to shake with a tremulous movement; tremble
His bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down his cheeks.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
shiver,
quake,
shudder,
agitate,
vibrate,
pulsate,
quaver,
convulse,
palpitate
in the sense of quiver
Definition
a shaking or trembling
I felt a quiver of panic.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
shiver,
throb,
shudder,
tremor,
spasm,
vibration,
tic,
convulsion,
palpitation,
pulsation
in the sense of shake
Definition
(of a voice) to tremble because of anger or nervousness
I stood there, crying and shaking with fear.
Synonyms
tremble,
shiver,
quake,
shudder,
quiver
in the sense of shake
Definition
a tremor or vibration
blurring of photos caused by camera shake
Synonyms
vibration,
trembling,
quaking,
shock,
jar,
disturbance,
jerk,
shiver,
shudder,
jolt,
tremor,
agitation,
convulsion,
pulsation,
jounce
in the sense of shudder
Definition
to shake or tremble suddenly and violently from horror or fear
She shuddered with cold.
Synonyms
shiver,
shake,
tremble,
quake,
quiver,
convulse
in the sense of thrill
Definition
to vibrate or quiver
Synonyms
tremble,
shake,
quake,
throb,
shudder,
flutter,
quiver,
vibrate
in the sense of tremor
Definition
an involuntary shudder or vibration
He felt a tremor in his arm.
Synonyms
shake,
shaking,
tremble,
trembling,
shiver,
quaking,
wobble,
quiver,
quivering,
agitation,
vibration,
quaver
in the sense of vibrate
Definition
to undergo or cause to undergo vibration
Her whole body seemed to vibrate with terror.
Synonyms
shake,
tremble,
shiver,
fluctuate,
quiver,
oscillate,
judder (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vibration
Definition
a vibrating
The vibration dislodged the pins from the plane's rudder.