vibrate

Everyday

To move quickly and gently backwards and forwards or from side to side, many times a second; to shake slightly. tree →

In the lessons

In science, sound is made when something vibrates, like a guitar string, a drum skin or our vocal cords; the vibrations travel through air to our ears. Faster vibrations make a higher sound. In everyday life, phones vibrate when a message comes. Phrases: vibrate quickly, phone on vibrate, vibrate with sound.

Examples

• The guitar string vibrates when you pluck it. tree →
• My phone vibrated in my pocket. tree →
• Put your hand on your throat and feel it vibrate when you hum. tree →
• The windows vibrated when the truck went by. tree →
• Faster vibrating makes a higher note. tree →
• The drum skin vibrates to make sound. tree →
• “Are you sure?” said Fionn in a voice that rumbled and vibrated like thunder. tree →

Note

Regular verb: vibrated, vibrating. The noun is "vibration". Science fact: all sounds come from vibrations; sound cannot travel through empty space because there is nothing to vibrate.