quaver
Trembling vocal note
Quaver means to tremble or shake, especially of the voice when someone is nervous, emotional, or afraid: Her voice quavered as she read the eulogy.
The noun describes this trembling quality: a quaver in his voice.
In music, particularly British usage, a quaver is an eighth note.
The word suggests vulnerability or unsteadiness rather than violent shaking.
Shake from fear
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
- vibrateShake with small movements
shake · wobble · flutter · waver · falter · judder · oscillate · palpitate
Cessation of activity
- beamStructural support member
- stemPlant's central axis
- flagCloth symbol or signal
- crotchetOne-beat musical note
semiquaver · minim · notation · rhythm · tempo · beat · measure · bar
Rapid pitch oscillation
- tremoloRapid tonal wavering
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
- warbleSing with tremolo
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
oscillation · pitch · flutter · shake · ornament · coloratura · vocal · sustain
Hesitate or fluctuate
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- shakeTrembling or blended treat
- trembleShake from fear
- crackNarrow break or attempt
break · wobble · unsteady · stammer · stutter · catch · hitch · warble
Emotional response to threat
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
timidity · uncertainty · hesitation · distress · agitation · unease · dread · fright
tremble
Shake from fear
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
vibrate · shake · wobble · flutter · waver · falter · judder · oscillate · palpitate · jitter
rest
Cessation of activity
crotchet · semiquaver · minim · notation · rhythm · tempo · beat · measure · bar · duration
trill
Rapid pitch oscillation
modulation · oscillation · pitch · flutter · shake · ornament · coloratura · vocal · sustain · timbre
waver
Hesitate or fluctuate
crack · break · wobble · unsteady · stammer · stutter · catch · hitch · warble · thin
fear
Emotional response to threat
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
trepidation · timidity · uncertainty · hesitation · distress · agitation · unease · dread · fright · alarm
- music notationtreble clef, bass clef, clef, clefs, staff
- musical notationforte, score, piano, sheet music, notation
- voice qualitiespitch, tone, timbre, resonance, inflection
- rhythm notationwhole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note
- audio effectsreverb, delay, flanger, chorus effect, phaser
- shiversshiver, shivers, shudder, tremble, trembling
quavercalm
Free from agitation
confident · composed · assured · unflinching · resolute
quaversteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
still · rock-steady · stable · unshaking · motionless