tremble

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled a-tremblin and trimmlin

US /ˈtɹɛmbl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #11260

Meanings

1

verb
To shake slightly, especially from fear, cold, or strong emotion.

Her lips began to tremble as she fought back tears.
2

noun
A slight shaking or quivering movement.

There was a tremble in his voice as he spoke.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to shake slightly,... shake quiver

2 noun · a slight shaking or... shake

Word family

Forms trembledtremblestremblyuntrembling

Derived forms knee-tremble

Etymology

From Middle English tremblen, from Old French trembler, from Late Latin tremulāre, ultimately from Latin tremere (“quiver, shake”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τρέμω (trémō).

*trem- Proto-Indo-European tremblen Middle English trembler Old French tremulō la-lat tremō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# tremble

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɹɛmbl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 11260

## Meanings
1. To shake slightly, especially from fear, cold, or strong emotion.
2. A slight shaking or quivering movement.

## Examples
- Her lips began to tremble as she fought back tears.
- There was a tremble in his voice as he spoke.

## Derived Forms
- knee-tremble

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *trem-
- Root: tremblen
- Root: trembler
- Root: tremulō
- Root: tremō

## Etymology
From Middle English tremblen, from Old French trembler, from Late Latin tremulāre, ultimately from Latin tremere (“quiver, shake”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τρέμω (trémō).

## AI Etymology
Tremble is from Middle English tremblen, from Old French trembler, from Late Latin tremulāre, ultimately from Latin tremere (“quiver, shake”). Cognate with Ancient Greek τρέμω (trémō). The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *trem-, Middle English tremblen, Old French trembler, la-lat tremulō, Latin tremō. In present-day use, it can mean to shake slightly, especially from fear, cold, or strong emotion, or a slight shaking or quivering movement. Derived formations include knee-tremble.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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