Word · Frequency #28266
quaver
颤声；颤抖
a tremulous sound
- 1.
A trembling shake.
- 2.
a tremulous sound
颤抖的声音
- 3.
A trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
- 4.
a musical note having the time value of an eighth of a whole note
时值为全音符八分之一的音符
- 5.
an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.
八分音符；颤抖的声音；时值为全音符八分之一的音符；颤抖；颤声
In use
There was a quaver in her voice as she thanked the audience.
The old man's words came out with a slight quaver.
I heard a quaver in his singing that suggested he was nervous.
sb's voice quavers (with sth)
quaver 作不及物动词时，主语常为 voice，表示声音因情绪而颤抖。
Her voice quavered with emotion.
她的声音因激动而颤抖。
quaver out sth / quaver sth out
quaver sth out 表示颤抖地说出；若宾语为代词，须置于 out 之前。
He quavered out a reply.
他颤抖着说出回答。
a quaver in one's voice
名词 quaver 常用单数，指说话时声音的颤抖。
There was a quaver in her voice.
Connections
Collocations
- voice quavered
- 声音颤抖
- Her voice quavered when she heard the news.她听到这个消息时声音颤抖。
- a quaver in one's voice
- 声音中的一丝颤抖
- I noticed a quaver in his voice as he answered.我注意到他回答时声音里有一丝颤抖。
- in a quavering voice
- 用颤抖的声音
- The old man told the story in a quavering voice.老人用颤抖的声音讲述了这个故事。
- quaver with emotion
- 因激动而声音发抖
- She quavered with emotion as she read the letter.她读信时因激动而声音发抖。
Idioms & figurative uses
- a quaver in one's voice
- （说话时）声音颤抖There was a quaver in her voice as she spoke about the accident.她说到那次事故时声音有些颤抖。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
联想：quake（发抖）去掉k，再搭配waver（晃动）的开头——声音发抖晃动，就是quaver（颤声）。
Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：literary narrative、formal speech、emotional testimony 该义项（名词，颤声）多用于书面或正式语境，尤其在文学或新闻报道中描写人物声音因强烈情绪而颤抖。日常口语较少直接使用 quaver，更常说 voice trembled 或 a tremble in one’s voice。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Rhymes with target: waver, saver, flavor, shaver (all end with /eɪvɚ/). Note: clever and never look similar but have /ɛvɚ/, so they do not rhyme.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.