vibrate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, as a pendulum; oscillate.
-
to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; quiver; tremble.
-
(of sounds) to produce or have a quivering or vibratory effect; resound.
- Synonyms:
- echo
-
to thrill, as in emotional response.
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to move between alternatives or extremes; fluctuate; vacillate.
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, swing, or oscillate.
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to cause to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; cause to quiver or tremble.
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to give forth or emit by, or as by, vibration.
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to measure or indicate by vibration or oscillation.
a pendulum vibrating seconds.
verb
-
to move or cause to move back and forth rapidly; shake, quiver, or throb
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(intr) to oscillate
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to send out (a sound) by vibration; resonate or cause to resonate
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(intr) to waver
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physics to undergo or cause to undergo an oscillatory or periodic process, as of an alternating current; oscillate
-
rare (intr) to respond emotionally; thrill
Related Words
See shake.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vibrate
First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin vibrātus (past participle of vibrāre “to move to and fro”); see -ate 1
Explanation
When you feel something vibrate, it trembles and shakes. A mild earthquake, for example, might make your chandelier vibrate. A hummingbird's wings vibrate, and so does an electric toothbrush. That extremely rapid back-and-forth movement is what happens when something vibrates. Something can also vibrate in a more musical, resonant way — the sound of an organ might vibrate through a church, for example. The root is the Latin word vibratus, which means "move quickly to and fro or shake."
Vocabulary lists containing vibrate
The Circuit
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Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
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Messenger
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Harris has tried to seek out bright spots in Africa during her trip, finding one of them at Vibrate Studio in Accra, a hub for young artists with a recording studio and music business program.
From Washington Times • Mar. 29, 2023
On Monday, Harris also visited Vibrate Space, a recording studio attached to a skateboard park, where she stressed the importance of the cultural bonds of music.
From Washington Post • Mar. 27, 2023
Prior to its release, all OnePlus flagships came with a slider that allows you to easily switch between Sound, Vibrate, and Mute modes.
From The Verge • Sep. 12, 2022
What made you choose "Vibrate Higher" for the title?
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2021
Vibrate one of the forks for a moment and then stop it by means of the hand.
From Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters, Francis M.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
