vi|brate

vi|brate «VY brayt», verb, -brat|ed, -brat|ing.

–v.i.

1. a) to move rapidly to and fro: »

A snake's tongue vibrates when he sticks it out. A piano string vibrates and makes a sound when a key is struck.

SYNONYM(S): quiver, shake, tremble, throb. b) Physics. to swing to and fro or otherwise move in an alternating or reciprocating motion by disturbing the equilibrium of the particles in n elastic body. c) to swing to and fro; oscillate: »

a vibrating pendulum.

2. to be moved; quiver.

3. Figurative. to move or oscillate as between extreme conditions or opinions; fluctuate; vacillate.

4. Figurative. to thrill: »

Their hearts vibrated to the speaker's stirring appeal.

5. a) to continue to be heard; strike; sound; resound: »

The clanging vibrated in my ears.

b) to circulate, move, pass, or pierce by vibration (about, through, to): »

The mournful sound of the tolling bell vibrated through the air.

–v.t.

1. to cause to move to and fro or up and down; set in vibration: »

Virginian rattlesnakes…swiftly vibrating and shaking their tails (John Evelyn).

2. to measure by moving to and fro: »

A pendulum vibrates seconds.

3. a) to send out, give forth, or emit (as light or sound) by vibration: »

Figurative. to vibrate sympathy.

b) Obsolete. to launch or hurl (as a thunderbolt or sentence).

╂[< Latin vibrāre (with English -ate¹) to shake]