fibrillate

[fahy-bruh-leyt, fib-ruh-]

verb (used with object)

fibrillated, fibrillating 

1. to cause to undergo fibrillation.

verb (used without object)

fibrillated, fibrillating 

1. to undergo fibrillation.

Other Word Forms

• fibrillative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fibrillate¹

First recorded in 1830–40; fibrill(a) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

His heart was beating in the 140s, its upper chambers fibrillating.

From New York Times

It was not beating, but it was fibrillating.

From Washington Post

My wife stopped taking 1.2 grams of fish oil daily and stopped fibrillating.

From Seattle Times

Once liberated, I hit Water Street and from there it was a straight trajectory to the fibrillating heart of town.

From Literature

The coroner said his heart, fibrillating, stopped pumping blood to his organs, starving his brain of oxygen.

From Reuters