Vi"brate (?), v. i. 1. To
move to and
fro, or from
side to side, as a pendulum, an elastic rod, or a stretched string, when disturbed from its position of rest; to swing; to oscillate.
2. To have the constituent particles move
to and fro,
with alternate compression and dilation of parts, as the air, or any elastic body; to quiver.
3. To produce an oscillating or quivering effect of sound; as, a whisper vibrates on the ear. Pope.
4. To pass from
one state to another; to waver; to fluctuate; as, a man vibrates between two opinions.
Vi"brate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Vibrate (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Vibrating.]
[L. vibratus, p. p. of vibrare, v. t. & v. i., to snake, brandish, vibrate; akin to Skr. vip to tremble, Icel. veifa to wave, vibrate. See Waive and cf. Whip, v. t.] 1. To brandish; to move to and fro; to swing; as, to
vibrate a sword or a staff.
2. To mark or measure by moving to and
fro; as, a pendulum vibrating seconds.
3. To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
Breath vocalized, that is, vibrated or undulated, may . . . impress a swift, tremulous motion.
Holder. Star to star
vibrates light.
Tennyson.
Hear it pronounced