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quaver
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1qua·ver

verb \ˈkwā-vər\
qua·veredqua·ver·ing \ˈkwā-və-riŋ, ˈkwāv-riŋ\

Definition of QUAVER

intransitive verb
1
: tremble
2
: trill
3
: to utter sound in tremulous tones
transitive verb
: to utter quaveringly
— qua·ver·ing·ly adverb
— qua·very \ˈkwā-və-rē, ˈkwāv-rē\ adjective
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Examples of QUAVER

  1. Her voice quavered during the speech.
  2. He spoke in quavering tones.

Origin of QUAVER

Middle English, frequentative of quaven to tremble
First Known Use: 15th century

Related to QUAVER

Synonyms
warble, trill

Rhymes with QUAVER

caver, claver, favor, flavor, graver, haver, laver, raver, saver, savor, shaver, slaver, waiver, waver

2quaver

noun

Definition of QUAVER

1
: eighth note
2
: trill 1
3
: a tremulous sound
See quaver defined for English-language learners »

Examples of QUAVER

  1. There was a quaver in his voice.

First Known Use of QUAVER

1570

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

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