VIBRATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vibrate mean? 

• VIBRATE (verb)
  The verb VIBRATE has 5 senses:

1. shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner

2. move or swing from side to side regularly

3. be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

4. sound with resonance

5. feel sudden intense sensation or emotion

  Familiarity information: VIBRATE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VIBRATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they vibrate    ... he / she / it vibrates   
Past simple: vibrated   
Past participle: vibrated   
-ing form: vibrating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "vibrate" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vibrate"):

shimmy; wobble (tremble or shake)

judder; shake (shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

vibration (a shaky motion)

vibrator (mechanical device that produces vibratory motion; used for massage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move or swing from side to side regularly

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

oscillate; vibrate

Context example:

the needle on the meter was oscillating

Hypernyms (to "vibrate" is one way to...):

sway; swing (move or walk in a swinging or swaying manner)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vibrate"):

hunt (oscillate about a desired speed, position, or state to an undesirable extent)

librate (vibrate before coming to a total rest)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

vibration (the act of vibrating)

vibration ((physics) a regular periodic variation in value about a mean)

vibrator (a mechanical device that vibrates)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hover; oscillate; vacillate; vibrate

Context example:

He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement

Hypernyms (to "vibrate" is one way to...):

hesitate; waffle; waver (pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vibrate"):

shillyshally (be uncertain and vague)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Sound with resonance

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

resonate; vibrate

Context example:

The sound resonates well in this theater

Hypernyms (to "vibrate" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vibrate"):

make vibrant sounds; purr (indicate pleasure by purring; characteristic of cats)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s something

Derivation:

vibrancy (having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant)

vibrant (of sounds that are strong and resonating)

vibratory (moving very rapidly to and fro or up and down)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Feel sudden intense sensation or emotion

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

thrill; tickle; vibrate

Context example:

he was thrilled by the speed and the roar of the engine

Hypernyms (to "vibrate" is one way to...):

excite; shake; shake up; stimulate; stir (stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated in his voice.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They close to prevent food from getting into the lungs, and they vibrate to produce the voice.

(Murine Vocal Cords, NCI Thesaurus)

Usually, these fields can vibrate at all orientations.

(Planck Takes Magnetic Fingerprint of Our Galaxy, JPL/NASA)

The researchers then directed high-frequency sound waves over the device, causing it to vibrate and distort, like a tiny earthquake.

(Quantum state of single electrons controlled by ‘surfing’ on sound waves, University of Cambridge)

Whether it was merely the expelled breath, or his consciousness of his growing impotence, I know not, but his throat vibrated with a deep groan.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Based on the children's self-reports of pain and anxiety, there were no significant differences between the vibrating cold device (VCD) group and the lidocaine group.

(Better IV Insertion Device, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It struck twelve—I waited till the time-piece had concluded its silver chime, and the clock its hoarse, vibrating stroke, and then I proceeded.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The great bow creaked and groaned and the cord vibrated with the tension.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate.

(Ear Disorders, NIH)

The bubble forces the water surface itself to vibrate, acting like a piston to drive the airborne sound.

(What causes the sound of a dripping tap – and how do you stop it?, University of Cambridge)