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quaver
[ kwey-ver ]
verb (used without object)
- 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.
verb (used with object)
- to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.
noun
- a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.
- a quavering tone or utterance.
- Music (chiefly British). an eighth note.
quaver
/ ˈkweɪvə /
verb
- to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice
- intr (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake
- rare.intr to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills
noun
- music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve Usual US and Canadian nameeighth note
- a tremulous sound or note
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Derived Forms
- ˈquaveringly, adverb
- ˈquavery, adjective
- ˈquaverer, noun
- ˈquavering, adjective
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Other Words From
- quaver·er noun
- quaver·ing·ly adverb
- quaver·y quaver·ous adjective
- un·quaver·ing adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of quaver1
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Example Sentences
There were lines in her face that Davy had never seen, a near quaver in her voice that he had never heard.
She stopped, for fear of breaking into a quaver, and smiled brightly.
“I reckon I had to do it, old man,” he said, a quaver in his voice.
“What I want to know is whether I can serve you—now or afterwards,” she added, with a quaver.
She evidently realized that her tone was a mere quaver of assent, for she repeated the word more firmly.
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