tremble
/'trembl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To make small, quick, and involuntary movements, typically up and down or from side to side, often due to cold, fear, excitement, or weakness.
- To feel or show fear, anxiety, or agitation.
Noun:
- An instance or the act of trembling; a quiver or shake.
Usage
- Verb: Used to describe an involuntary, rhythmic shaking of the body or a part of the body.
- Noun: Used to refer to the shaking movement itself or the state of being in such a condition.
Examples
- Verb:
- Her voice began to tremble as she spoke about the accident.
- The leaves tremble in the gentle breeze.
- He could not stop his hands from trembling.
- Noun:
- There was a noticeable tremble in his fingers.
- She answered the question with a tremble in her voice.
Advanced Usage
- "to tremble at the thought of...": To be very frightened or anxious about a potential situation.
- I tremble at the thought of having to give a public speech.
- "to tremble for someone": To be very worried or fearful for someone's safety or well-being.
- She trembled for her son when she heard about the storm.
- "to tremble in the balance": (Idiomatic) To be in a state of uncertainty where the outcome is about to be decided.
- The fate of the peace treaty trembled in the balance.
Variants and Related Words
- Trembling (noun/adj): The action or fact of shaking; characterized by shakes.
- He spoke with a trembling voice.
- Trembly (adj, informal): Inclined to tremble; shaky.
- She felt weak and trembly after the shock.
Synonyms
- Shake: To move with short, quick movements back and forth or up and down.
- Quiver: To shake with a slight, rapid motion.
- Shiver: To shake slightly and uncontrollably, typically from cold or fear.
- Quake: To shake or tremble violently.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Tremble" is not commonly used to form standard phrasal verbs. The advanced idiomatic usages above function similarly.)
Related Idioms
- "All of a tremble": In a state of nervous excitement or fear.
- She was all of a tremble before her interview.
Noun
- a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement
Verb
- move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
- His hands were trembling when he signed the document