throb

[ throb ]
See synonyms for throb on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),throbbed, throb·bing.
  1. to beat with increased force or rapidity, as the heart under the influence of emotion or excitement; palpitate.

  2. to feel or exhibit emotion: He throbbed at the happy thought.

  1. to pulsate; vibrate: The cello throbbed.

noun
  1. the act of throbbing.

  2. a violent beat or pulsation, as of the heart.

  1. any pulsation or vibration: the throb of engines.

Origin of throb

1
First recorded in 1325–75; unattested Middle English throbben, implied in present participle throbbant “throbbing”; further origin unknown

synonym study For throb

1. See pulsate.

Other words from throb

  • throb·ber, noun
  • out·throb, verb (used with object), out·throbbed, out·throb·bing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for throb

throb

/ (θrɒb) /


verbthrobs, throbbing or throbbed (intr)
  1. to pulsate or beat repeatedly, esp with increased force: to throb with pain

  2. (of engines, drums, etc) to have a strong rhythmic vibration or beat

noun
  1. the act or an instance of throbbing, esp a rapid pulsation as of the heart: a throb of pleasure

Origin of throb

1
C14: perhaps of imitative origin

Derived forms of throb

  • throbbing, adjective
  • throbbingly, adverb

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