quaver

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++qua·ver1 /ˈkweɪvə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive, transitive]  SHAKEif your voice quavers, it shakes as you speak, especially because you are nervous or upset 〔声音〕颤抖 ‘It’s not true, ’ she said, in a quavering voice. “这不是真的。”她颤声说道。 ‘No, ’ he quavered. “不。”他声音都颤抖了。 —quavery adjective→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

quaver• Her voice quavered as she recounted details of the attack.

Related topics: Music, Colours & sounds

quaver2 noun [countable]  1. British EnglishAPM a musical note which continues for an eighth of the length of a semibreve 八分音符 SYN American English eighth note2. CSHAKEa shaking sound in your voice 颤音

Examples from the Corpus

quaver• The rapid bowed quavers of the former become the rapid staccato semiquavers of the latter.• The repeating shape of the accompaniment in quavers is designed to recur only at the first beat of the seventh bar.• Finally, the third rhythm forms a contrastingly smooth arpeggio which sweeps upwards in pairs of quavers.• His voice carried a barely perceptible quaver.• The quaver would be far too quick for the pizzicato, especially in chord work like this.• The smile appears forced, unsteady, seems to quaver, though it is frozen in silver nitrate.Origin quaver (1400-1500) quave “to shake” ((13-19 centuries))

qua·ver1 verbquaver2 nounChineseSyllable  

it Corpus shakes if you as quavers, voice your

quaver

I

qua‧ver¹ /ˈkweɪvə $ -ər/ verb [intransitive and transitive]if your voice quavers, it shakes as you speak, especially because you are nervous or upset:
    ‘It’s not true,’ she said, in a quavering voice.
    ‘No,’ he quavered.
—quavery adjective

II

quaver² noun [countable]
1. British English a musical note which continues for an eighth of the length of a semibreve
   SYN  eighth note American English
2. a shaking sound in your voice