quaver
/ˈkweɪvər/
noun
- A trembling or shaking sound, especially in a person's voice.
- There was a noticeable quaver in her voice when she answered the question.
- The singer's voice had a beautiful, natural quaver that added emotion to the song.
- He spoke with a slight quaver, revealing his nervousness.
- In music, a note that is half the length of a quarter note (eighth note).
- The composer used a series of quavers to create a fast, flowing passage.
- She practiced playing quavers evenly on the piano.
- The melody was written with many quavers, giving it a lively rhythm.
verb
- To shake or tremble, especially in one's voice, often due to emotion or nervousness.
- The old man's hands quavered slightly as he lifted the cup of tea.
- Her voice began to quaver as she told the sad story.
- He tried to speak calmly, but his words quavered with fear.
Antonyms