English Explanatory Dictionary

quaver

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A trembling shake.
  2. A trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
  3. an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.
verb
  1. To shake in a trembling manner.
  2. To use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing.
  3. To utter quaveringly.

Pronunciation

/ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-quaver.wav

Word forms

quaver quavers quavering quavered

Etymology

From Middle English quaveren, frequentative form of quaven, cwavien (“to tremble”), equivalent to quave + -er. Cognate with Low German quabbeln (“to quiver”), German quabbeln, quappeln (“to quiver”). More at quave, quab, quiver.

Synonyms

wobble

Related words

breve crotchet longa minim semibreve

Derived words

demiquaver demisemiquaver hemidemisemiquaver quaver rest semiquaver quaverer quaveringly quaverous quavery unquavering
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