vibrate

English

Etymology

From Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“agitate, set in tremulous motion”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /vaɪˈbɹeɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪt
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈvaɪ.bɹeɪt/

Verb

vibrate (third-person singular simple present vibrates, present participle vibrating, simple past and past participle vibrated)

1. To move with small movements rapidly to and fro.
2. To resonate.

   Her mind vibrates with excitement.

3. To brandish; to swing to and fro.

   to vibrate a sword or a staff

4. To mark or measure by moving to and fro.

   a pendulum vibrating seconds

5. To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
   • Holder

     Breath vocalized, that is, vibrated or undulated, may […] impress a swift, tremulous motion.

   • Tennyson

     Star to star vibrates light.

Related terms

vibrant vibratile

vibration vibratiuncle

vibrative vibrato

vibrator

Translations

move with small movements rapidly

• Dutch: trillen (nl)
• French: vibrer (fr)
• Galician: vibrar (gl)
• German: vibrieren (de)

• Italian: vibrare (it)
• Maori: neneke
• Portuguese: vibrar (pt)
• Spanish: vibrar (es)

Noun

vibrate (uncountable)

1. The setting, on a portable electronic device, that causes it to vibrate rather than sound any (or most) needed alarms.

   Please put your cellphones on vibrate for the duration of the meeting.

Translations

setting

• German: Vibration (de) f

External links

• vibrate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• vibrate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

• vrbaite

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Italian

Verb

vibrate

1. second-person plural present indicative of vibrare
2. second-person plural imperative of vibrare
3. feminine plural of vibrato

Anagrams

• brevità, trabevi

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Latin

Verb

vibrāte

1. first-person plural present active imperative of vibrō