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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use quaver in a sentence
In a quavering voice she says: “We met and we never left each other.”
When,” she asks, her voice quavering, “is it going to be enough?
As if to bring everyone back to the issue at hand, Knox then spoke, her voice quavering with emotion.
“Senator Specter asked us to call you,” the communications director began, his voice quavering.
There a familiar sound met his ears—the roll of a drum followed by an incantation in a quavering, high-pitched voice.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
When Bardas led him within, he heard the princess's little wind-organ throbbing and quavering.
God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis"I don't know what you mean," said Mr. Milburgh in a quavering voice.
The Daffodil Mystery | Edgar WallaceHe shook so much that his signature was only a quavering line.
The Planet Strappers | Raymond Zinke GallunHer voice was choked as she went on—was quavering as with the contemplation of some strange, yet closely-present idea.
North and South | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
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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