palpitate

[ pal-pi-teyt ]

/ ˈpæl pɪˌteɪt /

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verb (used without object), pal·pi·tat·ed, pal·pi·tat·ing.

to pulsate with unusual rapidity from exertion, emotion, disease, etc.; flutter: His heart palpitated wildly.

to pulsate; quiver; throb; tremble.

verb (used with object), pal·pi·tat·ed, pal·pi·tat·ing.

to cause to pulsate or tremble.

Nearby words

palpebral fissure, palpebrate, palpebronasal fold, palpi, palpitant, palpitate, palpitation, palpus, palsa, palsgrave, palsgravine

Origin of palpitate

1615–25; < Latin palpitātus, past participle of palpitāre to pulsate, frequentative of palpāre to stroke. See palpus, -ate¹

Related forms

pal·pi·tat·ing·ly, adverbun·pal·pi·tat·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. See pulsate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palpitating

I saw my soul a second time to-day; it was no longer the bubble, blown large, palpitating.
The Journal of Arthur Stirling|Upton Sinclair
A palpitating chorus of frogs rose from the invisible streams.
The Happy End|Joseph Hergesheimer
Now he touched the gun with palpitating hands, but he did not pick it up.
The Dead Command|Vicente Blasco Ibez
He found the piece great, mobile, and palpitating, and he was not ashamed.
Fairfax and His Pride|Marie Van Vorst

With palpitating hearts and loud cries we ran towards the house, alarmed the family, and told them our trouble.
Welsh Folk-Lore|Elias Owen

British Dictionary definitions for palpitating

palpitate

/ (ˈpælpɪˌteɪt) /

verb (intr)

(of the heart) to beat with abnormal rapidity

to flutter or tremble

Derived Forms

palpitant, adjectivepalpitation, noun

Word Origin for palpitate

C17: from Latin palpitāre to throb, from palpāre to stroke

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