wobble

¹wob·ble

verb \ˈwä-bəl\

wob·bled also wab·bledwob·bling also wab·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of WOBBLE

intransitive verb

1

a : to move or proceed with an irregular rocking or staggering motion or unsteadily and clumsily from side to side

b : tremble, quaver

2

: waver, vacillate

transitive verb

: to cause to wobble

— wob·bler also wab·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

— wob·bli·ness also wab·bli·ness \ˈwä-blē-nəs\ noun

— wob·bly also wab·bly \ˈwä-b(ə-)lē\ adjective

Variants of WOBBLE

wob·ble also wab·ble \ˈwä-bəl\

Examples of WOBBLE

1. The vase wobbled but didn't fall over.
2. The boy was wobbling along on his bicycle.
3. The table wobbles a little.
4. They have been wobbling in their support of the president's policies.

Origin of WOBBLE

probably from Low German wabbeln; akin to Old English wǣfre restless — more at waver

First Known Use: 1657

Related to WOBBLE

Synonyms

agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, judder [chiefly British], quake, quiver, shudder, vibrate, shake (also wabble)

Antonyms

dive (in), plunge (in)

Related Words

rock, sway, swing; chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble; twitch; dodder, waver; flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave; beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb

Near Antonyms

decide; budge, stir; advance, continue

Rhymes with WOBBLE

bobble, cobble, gobble, hobble, Kabul, nobble, obol, squabble

²wobble

noun

Definition of WOBBLE

1

a : a hobbling or rocking unequal motion (as of a wheel unevenly mounted)

b : an uncertainly directed movement

2

: an intermittent variation (as in volume of sound)

Variants of WOBBLE

wobble also wabble

First Known Use of WOBBLE

1699

Other Audio Recording Terms

baffle, dub, fidelity, transcription, treble

Rhymes with WOBBLE

bobble, cobble, gobble, hobble, squabble