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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

quaver en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/

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.

Meanings

  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.
    • The crotchets and quavers are dancing up and down the stave like little black boys on a fence. 1920 August 27, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “The Wind Blows”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, pages 140–141:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
quavers Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

hemidemisemiquaver · demisemiquaver · demiquaver · semiquaver · quaver rest

Relateds

minim · semibreve · crotchet · longa · breve

Translations (56)

es corchea ((music) an eighth note) · sv skälva (a trembling of the voice) · nl vibrato (a trembling of the voice) · vi nốt móc đơn ((music) an eighth note) · ro tremolo (a trembling of the voice) · fi kahdeksasosanuotti ((music) an eighth note) · cs osminová nota ((music) an eighth note) · is áttundapartsnóta ((music) an eighth note) · ka ტრელი (a trembling shake) · hu remegés (a trembling of the voice) · el όγδοο ((music) an eighth note) · nl achtste noot (a trembling shake) · is áttundipartur ((music) an eighth note) · eu kortxea ((music) an eighth note) · cs chvění (a trembling of the voice) · nl tremolo (a trembling of the voice) · pt colcheia ((music) an eighth note) · ka რაკრაკი (a trembling shake) · gd caman ((music) an eighth note) · az səkkizlik not ((music) an eighth note) · pl ósemka ((music) an eighth note) · de Trillern (a trembling of the voice) · mi orohaurua ((music) an eighth note) · nl trilling (a trembling shake) · hu remegés (a trembling shake) · nl achtste noot ((music) an eighth note) · ru восьма́я но́та ((music) an eighth note) · cmn 八分音符 ((music) an eighth note) · vi móc đơn ((music) an eighth note) · hu nyolcad ((music) an eighth note) · es temblor (a trembling shake) · ms kuaver ((music) an eighth note) · hu reszketés (a trembling shake) · cs trylek (a trembling of the voice) · cs osminka ((music) an eighth note) · ca corxera ((music) an eighth note) · ro tremur (a trembling shake) · fr croche ((music) an eighth note) · ja 八分音符 ((music) an eighth note) · ko 팔분음표 ((music) an eighth note) · gl corchea ((music) an eighth note) · ka ხმის კანკალი (a trembling of the voice) · ro tremur (a trembling of the voice) · it croma ((music) an eighth note) · bg тремоло (a trembling of the voice) · sl osminka ((music) an eighth note) · sv åttondelsnot ((music) an eighth note) · yue 八分音符 ((music) an eighth note) · cs tremolo (a trembling of the voice) · nl beving (a trembling shake) · de Achtelnote ((music) an eighth note) · de Beben (a trembling shake) · cs chvění (a trembling shake) · bg треперене (a trembling shake) · de Beben (a trembling of the voice) · de Zittern (a trembling of the voice)

quaver en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈkweɪvə(ɹ)/

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.

Meanings

  1. To shake in a trembling manner.
  2. (intransitive) To use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing.
    • "Aw come on, guys!" The woman, clearly overwhelmed by the force of the two friends' personalities, quavered on the point of tears. 1982 December 11, Andrea Loewenstein, “The Joys of Community or Holiday-itis Strikes Back”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 21, page 12:
  3. (transitive) To utter quaveringly.
    • We shall hear her quavering them […] to some sprightly airs of the opera. 1711 November 4 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 205; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
quavering Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
quavered Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
quavered Tense=Past lexicographic
quavers Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Deriveds

quaveringly · quavery · quaverer · quaverous · unquavering

Synonyms

wobble

Translations (10)

bg тремолирам (to use the voice in a trembling manner) · hu trillázik (to use the voice in a trembling manner) · cs třást se (to shake) · hu remeg (to shake) · hu reszket (to shake) · de trillern (to use the voice in a trembling manner) · enm quaven (to shake) · bg треперя (to shake) · de zittern (to shake) · cs chvět se (to shake)