tremor
TREH-muh
Tremor (noun) means an involuntary shaking movement of the body or a body part. Example: “A tremor in his hand made it hard to hold the cup steady.”
noun
1
An involuntary shaking movement of the body or a body part.
"A tremor in his hand made it hard to hold the cup steady."
2
A mild earthquake or the shaking caused by one.
"Residents felt a small tremor early this morning."
verb
1
To shake or quiver, often uncontrollably.
"His voice tremored slightly as he gave the speech."
How to use tremor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shaking movement, whether in a person's body or in the ground during a small earthquake.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hand tremor
seismic tremor
a slight tremor
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Word forms
- Plural
- tremors
- Third person singular
- tremors
- Past tense
- tremored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ in his hand made it hard to hold the cup steady.
Etymology
From Latin tremor, "a trembling," from the verb tremere, "to shake" — related to tremble and tremendous.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “tremor” mean?
The word “tremor” means an involuntary shaking movement of the body or a body part. In plain terms, a shaking movement, whether in a person's body or in the ground during a small earthquake.
How do you pronounce “tremor”?
“Tremor” is pronounced TREH-muh (/ˈtɹɛmɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tremor” in a sentence?
Here is “tremor” used in a sentence: “A tremor in his hand made it hard to hold the cup steady.”
What part of speech is “tremor”?
Depending on how it is used, “tremor” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tremor” come from?
The word “tremor” comes from Latin. From Latin tremor, "a trembling," from the verb tremere, "to shake" — related to tremble and tremendous.
How many meanings does “tremor” have?
“Tremor” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an involuntary shaking movement of the body or a body part.
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