quaver
Use Quaver in a sentence
vər verb (used without object)
1.
to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble: He stood there quavering with fear.
3.
to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.
verb (used with object)
4.
to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.
noun
5.
a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
6.
a quavering tone or utterance.
7.
( Music chiefly British ) an eighth note.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To quaver
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Quaver
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
quaver (ˈkweɪvə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice |
| 2. | (intr) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake |
| 3. | rare (intr) to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills |
| —n | |
| 4. | music Usual US and Canadian name: eighth note a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve |
| 5. | a tremulous sound or note |
| [C15 (in the sense: to vibrate, | |
| 'quaverer | |
| —n | |
| 'quavering | |
| —adj | |
| 'quaveringly | |
| —adv | |
| 'quavery | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
quaver
"to vibrate, tremble," early 15c., probably frequentative of cwavien "to tremble, shake" (early 13c.), probably related to Low Ger. quabbeln "tremble," possibly of imitative origin. Meaning "sing in trills or quavers" first recorded 1538. The noun meaning "musical note" is first recorded 1570.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
She has an old-fashioned country voice with a twang, a breathy quaver, a break or a throaty sob whenever she needs one.
The lightning split the sky, but the song went on without a quaver.
Depending on the angle and the intensity of the light, illuminated images shrink, grow and quaver.
When his friends imitate him, they make their voices higher and gentler, and they introduce a quaver.
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