quaver
to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble: He stood there quavering with fear.
to sound, speak, or sing tremulously: Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.
to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.
a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
a quavering tone or utterance.
Music (chiefly British). an eighth note.
Origin of quaver
1Other words from quaver
- qua·ver·er, noun
- qua·ver·ing·ly, adverb
- qua·ver·y, qua·ver·ous, adjective
- un·qua·ver·ing, adjective
Words Nearby quaver
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use quaver in a sentence
There were lines in her face that Davy had never seen, a near quaver in her voice that he had never heard.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. HarneyShe stopped, for fear of breaking into a quaver, and smiled brightly.
Wayside Courtships | Hamlin Garland“I reckon I had to do it, old man,” he said, a quaver in his voice.
The Range Boss | Charles Alden Seltzer“What I want to know is whether I can serve you—now or afterwards,” she added, with a quaver.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 4 (of 25) | Robert Louis StevensonShe evidently realized that her tone was a mere quaver of assent, for she repeated the word more firmly.
Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
British Dictionary definitions for quaver
/ (ˈkweɪvə) /
to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
(intr) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
(intr) rare to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills
music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve: Usual US and Canadian name: eighth note
a tremulous sound or note
Origin of quaver
1Derived forms of quaver
- quaverer, noun
- quavering, adjective
- quaveringly, adverb
- quavery, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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