vibrate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner
  2. verb move or swing from side to side regularly
    oscillate.
    • the needle on the meter was oscillating
  3. verb be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
    hover; vacillate; oscillate.
    • He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement
  4. verb sound with resonance
    resonate.
    • The sound resonates well in this theater
  5. verb feel sudden intense sensation or emotion
    tickle; thrill.
    • he was thrilled by the speed and the roar of the engine

WordNet

Vi"brate transitive verb
Etymology
L. vibratus, p. p. of vibrare, v. t. & v. i., to snake, brandish, vibrate; akin to Skr. vip to tremble, Icel. veifa to wave, vibrate. See Waive and cf. Whip, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Vibrate ; present participle & verbal noun Vibrating
Definitions
  1. To brandish; to move to and fro; to swing; as, to vibrate a sword or a staff.
  2. To mark or measure by moving to and fro; as, a pendulum vibrating seconds.
  3. To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
    Breath vocalized, that is, vibrated or undulated, may . . . impress a swift, tremulous motion. Holder.
    Star to star vibrates light. Tennyson.
Vi"brate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To move to and fro, or from side to side, as a pendulum, an elastic rod, or a stretched string, when disturbed from its position of rest; to swing; to oscillate.
  2. To have the constituent particles move to and fro, with alternate compression and dilation of parts, as the air, or any elastic body; to quiver.
  3. To produce an oscillating or quivering effect of sound; as, a whisper vibrates on the ear. Pope.
  4. To pass from one state to another; to waver; to fluctuate; as, a man vibrates between two opinions.

Webster 1913