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 verb1: to swing or move to and fro2: to emit with or as if with a vibratory motion3: to mark or measure by oscillation <a pendulum vibrating seconds>4: to set in vibrationintransitive verb1 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 : quiver4: to respond sympathetically : thrill <vibrate to the opportunity>

synonyms see swing