vibrate: Meaning and Definition of

vi•brate

Pronunciation: (vī'brāt), [key]
— v., -brat•ed, -brat•ing.
—v.i.
  1. to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, as a pendulum; oscillate.
  2. to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; quiver; tremble.
  3. (of sounds) to produce or have a quivering or vibratory effect; resound.
  4. to thrill, as in emotional response.
  5. to move between alternatives or extremes; fluctuate; vacillate.
—v.t.
  1. to cause to move rhythmically and steadily to and fro, swing, or oscillate.
  2. to cause to move to and fro or up and down quickly and repeatedly; cause to quiver or tremble.
  3. to give forth or emit by, or as by, vibration.
  4. to measure or indicate by vibration or oscillation: a pendulum vibrating seconds.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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