Main Entry: vi·brate

Pronunciation: \ˈvī-ˌbrāt, especially British vī-ˈ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): vi·brat·ed; vi·brat·ing

Etymology: Latin vibratus, past participle of vibrare to brandish, wave, rock — more at wipe

Date: 1616

transitive verb 1 : to swing or move to and fro
2 : to emit with or as if with a vibratory motion
3 : to mark or measure by oscillation <a pendulum vibrating seconds>
4 : to set in vibrationintransitive verb 1 a : to move to and fro or from side to side : oscillate b : fluctuate, vacillate <vibrate between two choices>
2 : to have an effect as or as if of vibration <music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory — P. B. Shelley>
3 : to be in a state of vibration : quiver
4 : to respond sympathetically : thrill <vibrate to the opportunity>

synonyms see swing