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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.