vibrate

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word vibrate. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word vibrate, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say vibrate in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word vibrate you have here. The definition of the word vibrate will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofvibrate, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

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

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

Verb

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.
    • 1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, page 706:
      The tender roared along vibrating vigorously; braking had resulted in "flats" on most of its tyres.
  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 (Usenet):
      Downstairs in the living-room Jill
      Was vibrating herself for a thrill.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

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.
    Synonym: vibrate mode

Translations

Further reading

Anagrams

Italian

Etymology 1

Verb

vibrate

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

Etymology 2

Participle

vibrate f pl

  1. feminine plural of vibrato

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

vibrāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of vibrō

Spanish

Verb

vibrate

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