tremble

American  

[trem-buhl] / ˈtrɛm bəl /

verb (used without object)

trembled, trembling

1. to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver.

   Synonyms:

   shudder

2. to be troubled with fear or apprehension.

3. (of things) to be affected with vibratory motion.

   Synonyms:

   oscillate

4. to be tremulous, as light or sound.

   His voice trembled.

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noun

1. the act of trembling.

2. a state or fit of trembling.

3. (used with a singular verb) trembles,

   1. Pathology. milk sickness.

   2. Veterinary Pathology. a toxic condition of cattle and sheep caused by the eating of white snakeroot and characterized by muscular tremors.

tremble British  

/ ˈtrɛmbəl /

verb

1. to vibrate with short slight movements; quiver

2. to shake involuntarily, as with cold or fear; shiver

3. to experience fear or anxiety

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noun

1. the act or an instance of trembling

Related Words

See shake.

Other Word Forms

• trembling adjective
• tremblingly adverb
• trembly adjective
• untrembling adjective
• untremblingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of tremble

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English trem(b)len (verb), from Old French trembler, from Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, derivative of Latin tremulus tremulous

Example Sentences

She picked up her notebook and pencil—but before she could start to write, the ground began to tremble.

From Literature

Even the opening credits, some written in slithering hair, seem to tremble out of either fear or ecstasy.

From Los Angeles Times

Andre’s voice trembles as he rolls a mismatched pair of socks into a ball, then chucks it at the wall.

From Literature

He began to tremble again as he approached.

From Literature

Danny didn’t want to cry in front of Mr. Garner, but he felt his lip tremble, so he kept quiet and thought of the one person who made him feel brave: Pili.

From Literature

Related Words

• flutter
• quiver
• shiver
• shudder
• throb
• wobble