quavery

UK: /ˈkweɪvərɪ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

qua•ver /ˈkweɪvɚ/   v. 

[no object]
1. to shake, quiver, or tremble:
   Her lips quavered as she struggled not to cry.
2. to speak, sound, say, or sing with a voice that shakes or trembles:
   His voice quavered in fright.

n. [countable]

3. a quivering or trembling, esp. in the voice:
   He answered with a small quaver.
4. a quavering sound or tone.

qua•ver•ing•ly, adv. 
qua•ver•y, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

qua•ver  (kwā′vər), v.i. 

1. to shake tremulously;
   quiver or tremble:
   He stood there quavering with fear.
2. to sound, speak, or sing tremulously:
   Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.
3. to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.

v.t. 

4. to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.

n. 

5. a quavering or tremulous shake, esp. in the voice.
6. a quavering tone or utterance.
7. Music and Dance, British Terms an eighth note. See illus. under note. 

• late Middle English quaveren (verb, verbal), blend of, blended quake and waver¹ 1400–50

qua′ver•er, n. 
qua′ver•ing•ly, adv. 
qua′ver•y, qua′ver•ous, adj.