English edit

Etymology edit

From Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (agitate, set in tremulous motion), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (to oscillate, swing) or *weyb-.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /vaɪˈbɹeɪt/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈvaɪ.bɹeɪt/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪt

Verb edit

vibrate (third-person singular simple present vibrates, present participle vibrating, simple past and past participle vibrated)

  1. (intransitive) To shake with small, rapid movements to and fro.
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Coronation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 5:
      When "God save the King!" resounded through the stately abbey, the banners vibrating with the mighty music, I felt quite enthusiastic in my loyalty.
  2. (intransitive) To resonate.
    Her mind was vibrating with excitement.
  3. (transitive) To brandish; to swing to and fro.
    to vibrate a sword or a staff
  4. (transitive) To mark or measure by moving to and fro.
    a pendulum vibrating seconds
  5. (transitive) To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
  6. (transitive, slang, dated) To please or impress someone.
    • 1949, Ladies' Home Journal, volume 66, page 115:
      And if he wants to give you high praise, he'll answer, "That vibrates me"; "That has a large charge"; or "That's oogley."
    • 1961, Congressional Record:
      [] standing side by side under a Grecian column, tapping their feet in unison and saying such things as "Hot-diggety,” “Razz-ma-tazz," “That vibrates me," and other expressions of praise current in their youth.
  7. (intransitive, music) To use vibrato.
  8. (transitive, slang) To pleasure someone using a vibrator.
    • 1999 March 27, PeterW, “Jack with Jill”, in alt.jokes.limericks[1] (Usenet):
      Downstairs in the living-room Jill
      Was vibrating herself for a thrill.


Related terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

vibrate (uncountable)

  1. The setting, on a portable electronic device, that causes it to vibrate rather than sound any (or most) needed alarms.
    Please put your cellphones on vibrate for the duration of the meeting.

Translations edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Italian edit

Etymology 1 edit

Verb edit

vibrate

  1. inflection of vibrare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2 edit

Participle edit

vibrate f pl

  1. feminine plural of vibrato

Anagrams edit

Latin edit

Verb edit

vibrāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of vibrō

Spanish edit

Verb edit

vibrate

  1. second-person singular voseo imperative of vibrar combined with te