quiver

/ˈkwɪvər/

/ˈkwɪvə/

Other forms: quivering; quivered; quivers

Scaredy cats around the globe know that quivering is a trembling, shaking motion. A cold gust of wind might make you quiver, as would an icy glare from the abominable snowman.

The verb to quiver means to shudder, wobble, or vibrate, often from fear. But the noun quiver? It's actually the carrying case for your arrows, just the kind of thing Robin Hood would have strapped to his back. So imagine one of his arrows sailing through the air, hitting a tree with a hearty whack!, and then quivering there for a few seconds.

Definitions of quiver

1. verb

   shake with fast, tremulous movements
   synonyms: palpitate, quake

   type of:

   tremble

   move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
2. verb

   move back and forth very rapidly
   synonyms: flicker, flitter, flutter, waver

   type of:

   move back and forth

   move in one direction and then into the opposite direction
3. verb

   move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
   synonyms: beat, pulsate

   pulsate, pulse, throb

   expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
4. noun

   the act of vibrating
   synonyms: quivering, vibration

   types:

   shudder, tremor

   an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)

   type of:

   motility, motion, move, movement

   a change of position that does not entail a change of location
5. noun

   a shaky motion
   synonyms: palpitation, quivering, shakiness, shaking, trembling, vibration

   types:

   tremolo

   (music) a tremulous effect produced by rapid repetition of a single tone or rapid alternation of two tones

   tremor

   shaking or trembling (usually resulting from weakness or stress or disease)

   essential tremor

   tremor of unknown cause (usually of the hands and head) that develops in older people; often mistaken for Parkinsonism but is not life-threatening and can usually be kept under control

   type of:

   motion

   a state of change
6. noun

   an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
   synonyms: chill, frisson, shiver, shudder, thrill, tingle

   type of:

   fear, fearfulness, fright

   an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
7. noun

   case for holding arrows
   type of:

   case

   a portable container for carrying several objects