tremor

[trem-er, tree-mer]

noun

1. involuntary shaking of the body or limbs, as from disease, fear, weakness, or excitement; a fit of trembling.

   Synonyms: quiver, shiver, shudder

2. any tremulous or vibratory movement; vibration.

   tremors following an earthquake.

3. a trembling or quivering effect, as of light.

   Synonyms: oscillation

4. a quavering sound, as of the voice.

tremor

/ ˈtrɛmə /

noun

1. an involuntary shudder or vibration, as from illness, fear, shock, etc

2. any trembling or quivering movement

3. a vibrating or trembling effect, as of sound or light

4. Also called: earth tremor. a minor earthquake

verb

1. (intr) to tremble

tremor

1. A relatively minor seismic shaking or vibrating movement. Tremors often precede larger earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.

2. An involuntary shaking or trembling of the head or extremities that can be idiopathic or associated with any of various medical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Other Word Forms

• tremorous adjective
• tremorless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremor¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin: a trembling, equivalent to trem ( ere ) to tremble + -or -or ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremor¹

C14: from Latin: a shaking, from tremere to tremble, quake

Example Sentences

His voice was cool and even, but his ceaseless finger drumming could not hide the tremor in his hands.

Read more on Literature

There was a tremor in Alexander’s voice as he asked.

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Seismic devices also detected glacier earthquakes, small tremors caused by abrupt ice shifts.

Read more on Science Daily

In fact, the country experiences a tremor somewhere within its borders every five minutes or so.

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These are the institutional tremors of a shift from monetary to fiscal dominance, small in isolation but revealing when considered cumulatively.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• earthquake 
• shiver 
• upheaval 
• vibration