throb
/θrɒb
/verb (throbs, throbbing, throbbed) [no object]
1Beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsate steadily: the war drums throbbed figurative the crowded streets throbbed with life...
- The place throbbed to the rhythm of pneumatic drills as dozens of new tourist complexes took shape to cater for local demand.
- Her heart had pounded every second of the dinner, beating a rhythm that seemed to throb his name.
- Her voice sang in perfect harmony with her instrument, and her heart throbbed with the pulse of a true balladeer.
Synonyms
pulsate, beat, pulse, palpitate, pound, thud, thump, hammer, drum, thrum, reverberate, vibrate, pitter-patter, go pit-a-pat, quiver
rare quop
1.1Feel pain in a series of regular beats: her foot throbbed with pain (as adjective throbbing) a throbbing headache...
- He ached all over, his broken ankle throbbed with stabs of pain, and he was incredibly short of breath.
- She stayed standing, though her leg throbbed with blinding pain.
- The wound had healed somewhat but still throbbed with slight pain.
noun [usually in singular]
1A strong, regular beat or sound; a steady pulsation: the throb of the ship’s engines...
- Ease on in to the cool interior and the steady throb of the reggae beat tells you that you are in Marley Country.
- Slowly, a rhythm grew inside my bosom, resulting in a pulsating throb of emotion from the bow to the instrument.
- Occasionally the drumline rides on a steady electronic throb, but that's it.
Synonyms
pulsation, beat, beating, pulse, pulsating, palpitation, pounding, thud, thudding, thump, thumping, hammering, drumming, thrum, thrumming, reverberation, vibration, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, quivering
1.1A feeling of pain in a series of regular beats: the dull ache became a throb...
- Perhaps it was the dull throb of pain or the tyre mark on my shoe that put me in a particularly vicious mood.
- It doesn't hurt as much as throb and that sensitive pain when I eat something hot or cold.
- He forced himself onto his knees, ignoring the dull throb of pain that threatened to flare up any second and crawled a few inches, feeling the air blindly in front of him, before stopping to listen.
Origin
Late Middle English: probably imitative.