thrill

[ thril ]

/ θrɪl /

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verb (used with object)

to affect with a sudden wave of keen emotion or excitement, as to produce a tremor or tingling sensation through the body.

to utter or send forth tremulously, as a melody.

verb (used without object)

to affect one with a wave of emotion or excitement.

to be stirred by a tremor or tingling sensation of emotion or excitement: He thrilled at the thought of home.

to cause a prickling or tingling sensation; throb.

to move tremulously; vibrate; quiver.

noun

a sudden wave of keen emotion or excitement, sometimes manifested as a tremor or tingling sensation passing through the body.

something that produces or is capable of producing such a sensation: a story full of thrills.

a thrilling experience: It was a thrill to see Paris again.

a vibration or quivering.

Pathology. an abnormal tremor or vibration, as in the respiratory or vascular system.

Nearby words

Origin of thrill

1250–1300; Middle English thrillen orig., to penetrate, metathetic variant of thirlen to thirl

Related formssub·thrill, nounun·thrilled, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for thrill

For Paul, the thrill of breakfast with the Reverend, may be giving way to the taste of burnt toast.
GOP Won’t Forgive Rand for Cop Critique|Lloyd Green|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A wonderful accomplishment by Kevin and his team and a thrill for Les and Leslie Parrott.
How the Religious Right Scams Its Way Onto the New York Times Bestseller List|Warren Throckmorton|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most of us in that category can remember the thrill of seeing our words appear in public for the first time.
You Can Look It Up: The Wikipedia Story|Walter Isaacson|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It surely however gives a certain type of feller a thrill, dark and shameful though it may be.
The Dirty Secret Doctors Don't Want You To Know|Kent Sepkowitz|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After almost 20 years, it was a thrill to have a book in print.
Dumps and Death Threats, Hecklers and Vindication: True Tales from Today’s DIY Book Tour|Bill Morris|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The words were spoken in a woman's voice,—a voice that sent a thrill to Paul's heart.
The Shadow of the Czar|John R. Carling
Discomforts were quickly forgotten in the thrill of nearing battle grounds.
New Zealanders at Gallipoli|Major Fred Waite
A thrill shot through her heart as she did so, and a flush suffused her cheeks.
The Long Patrol|H. A. Cody
And Andrew felt the thrill of the successful Squire of Dames.
The Mountebank|William J. Locke
The words were such as might thrill any lover's heart with joy and gratitude.
The Spanish Brothers|Deborah Alcock

British Dictionary definitions for thrill

thrill

/ (θrɪl) /

noun

a sudden sensation of excitement and pleasureseeing his book for sale gave him a thrill

a situation producing such a sensationit was a thrill to see Rome for the first time

a trembling sensation caused by fear or emotional shock

pathol an abnormal slight tremor associated with a heart or vascular murmur, felt on palpation

verb

to feel or cause to feel a thrill

to tremble or cause to tremble; vibrate or quiver

Word Origin for thrill

Old English thӯrlian to pierce, from thyrel hole; see nostril, through

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

Word Origin and History for thrill

thrill

c.1300, "to pierce, penetrate," metathesis of Old English þyrlian, from þyrel "hole" (in Middle English, also "nostril"), from þurh "through" (cf. Middle High German dürchel "pierced, perforated;" see through) + -el. Meaning "give a shivering, exciting feeling" is first recorded 1590s, via metaphoric notion of "pierce with emotion." Related: Thrilled; thrilling.

thrill

"a shivering, exciting feeling," 1670s, from thrill (v.). Meaning "a thrilling experience" is attested from 1936.

Medicine definitions for thrill

thrill

[ thrĭl ]

n.

The vibration accompanying a cardiac or vascular murmur, detectible on palpation.

thrill

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of thrill

Examples from the Web for thrill

thrill

noun

verb

Word Origin for thrill

thrill

thrill

thrill

n.