Definition

1. Noun:

   • A shaking or trembling movement of the body: A "shiver" is a small, rapid, and often involuntary shaking of the body, typically caused by cold, fear, or excitement.
   • A momentary feeling of fear or excitement: A "shiver" can also refer to a sudden, brief feeling of fright, thrill, or anticipation.

2. Verb:

   • To shake slightly and uncontrollably: To "shiver" means to make small, quick shaking movements with your body, usually because you are cold, frightened, or very excited.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A sudden shiver ran down her spine when she heard the strange noise.
  • He felt a shiver of excitement as the concert was about to begin.

• Verb:

  • They shivered in the cold wind while waiting for the bus.
  • The puppy shivered with fear during the thunderstorm.

Advanced Usage

• "The shivers" (noun, plural, informal): A state or episode of shivering, often due to illness or strong emotion.

  • This horror movie gives me the shivers.
  • I think I have a fever; I woke up with the shivers.

• "Shiver my timbers!" (idiom, archaic): An exclamation of surprise or disbelief, historically associated with sailors.

  • Shiver my timbers! Is that really a pirate ship?

Variants and Related Words

• Shivery (adjective): Causing or characterized by shivers; feeling cold and shivering.

  • The shivery wind made it feel like winter.
  • She felt shivery and weak, a sign she was getting sick.

• Shivering (noun/gerund): The action or fact of shaking involuntarily.

  • His constant shivering was a clear sign of hypothermia.

Synonyms

• Tremble (verb): To shake involuntarily, typically from cold, fear, or weakness.
• Quiver (verb): To make a slight, rapid trembling motion.
• Frisson (noun): A sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Shiver" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically expressed by the verb alone or with a preposition like "with.") - Shiver with: To shiver because of a specific cause. - She was shivering with cold. - He shivered with anticipation.

Related Idioms

• Send shivers down someone's spine / Send a shiver down someone's spine: To cause someone to feel a sudden strong sensation of fear, excitement, or thrill.
  • The ghost story sent shivers down my spine.
• Shake and shiver: An emphatic phrase describing intense trembling.
  • The lost child was shaking and shivering in the dark alley.

Noun

1. an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
   • a frisson of surprise shot through him
2. a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

Verb

1. shake, as from cold
   • The children are shivering--turn on the heat!
2. tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement