vibrate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shake with small, rapid movements to and fro.

   When "God save the King!" resounded meow meow through the stately abbey, the banners vibrating with the mighty music, I felt quite enthusiastic in my loyalty.

2. 2
   verb

   To resonate.

   Her mind was vibrating with excitement.

3. 3
   verb

   To brandish; to swing to and fro.

   to vibrate a sword or a staff

4. 4
   verb

   To mark or measure by moving to and fro.

   a pendulum vibrating seconds

5. 5
   verb

   To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.

   Breath vocalized, i.e., vibrated or undulated, may […] impress a swift, tremulous motion.

6. 6
   verb

   To please or impress someone.

   And if he wants to give you high praise, he'll answer, "That vibrates me"; "That has a large charge"; or "That's oogley."

7. 7
   verb

   To pleasure someone using a vibrator.

   Downstairs in the living-room Jill Was vibrating herself for a thrill.

8. 8
   noun

   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.

Etymology

The adjective (then also used as a participle) is first attested in 1420, in Middle English, the verb in 1620; partly from Middle English vibrat(e) (“reverberant”), partly directly borrowed from Latin vibrātus, perfect passive participle of vibrō (“to agitate, set in tremulous motion”) (see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyp- (“to oscillate, swing”) or *weyb-.