vibration

noun vi·bra·tion \ vī-ˈbrā-shən \

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

1 a : a periodic motion of the particles of an elastic body or medium in alternately opposite directions from the position of equilibrium when that equilibrium has been disturbed (as when a stretched cord produces musical tones or molecules in the air transmit sounds to the ear)

b : the action of vibrating : the state of being vibrated or in vibratory motion: such as

(1) : oscillation

(2) : a quivering or trembling motion : quiver

2 : an instance of vibration

3 : vacillation in opinion or action : wavering

4 a : a characteristic emanation, aura, or spirit that infuses or vitalizes someone or something and that can be instinctively sensed or experienced —often used in plural

b : a distinctive usually emotional atmosphere capable of being sensed —usually used in plural

—

vibrational

play \vī-ˈbrā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

—

vibrationless

play \vī-ˈbrā-shən-ləs\ adjective

See vibration defined for English-language learners

See vibration defined for kids

Examples of vibration in a Sentence

trying to reduce engine vibration
the vibration of the floor caused by thundering feet in the hallway

Recent Examples of vibration from the Web

The educational program mixed singing, recall, and hands-on activities with concepts such as echos, vibrations, and sound waves.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Exploring The Science Of Sound With Sally Rogers," 27 Mar. 2018
Somewhere between the blinking lights and vibrations, an electrical current destroys the computer’s internal components.

— matt gallagher, WIRED, "Army of 01101111: The Making of a Cyber Battalion," 27 Mar. 2018
Combinations of feedback vibrations elicited some other manual movements.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "By vibrating the muscles, engineers produce a better prosthetic hand," 15 Mar. 2018
The company securely reattached them to the walls, so the crystals no longer ring through vibration, when the massive organ is played, Frey said.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens restoration readies Music Room for new season," 16 Mar. 2018
Some of the connections between vibration and hand movements appeared to differ little from person to person.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "By vibrating the muscles, engineers produce a better prosthetic hand," 15 Mar. 2018
Children can learn how the tiny hairs inside their ears protect them from hearing too much sound and understand more about the flow of vibration, Johnson says.

— allison bagley, Houston Chronicle, "'Biorhythm: Music and the Body' is a total body experience," 14 Mar. 2018
But some physicists see advantages to replacing the microwave resonator with a mechanical one that rings with quantized vibrations, or phonons.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Weird vibrations poised to control quantum computers," 14 Mar. 2018
The pilot described a loud bang and an abnormal vibration about 350 feet off the ground as one of the main rotor blades came apart, according to NTSB.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Liberty Helicopters crashed 3 times in 11 years around New York City, twice with fatalities," 12 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vibration.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of vibration

1635

vibration Synonyms

Synonyms

air, ambience (or ambiance), aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, note, odor, patina, smell, temper;

Related Words

mystique, romance;

feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit;

attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait;

color, illusion, overtone, semblance, suggestion, tone;

VIBRATION Defined for English Language Learners

vibration

noun

: a continuous slight shaking movement : a series of small, fast movements back and forth or from side to side
vibrations : a feeling that someone or something gives you