How Do You Spell QUAVER?

Pronunciation: [kwˈe͡ɪvə] (IPA)

The word quaver is spelled with a "q" followed by a "u," indicating that the sound is a distinct complex sound requiring two letters to represent. The "a" is pronounced as the short vowel sound /æ/ followed by the voiced consonant /v/. The word ends with an unstressed vowel, which is a schwa sound represented as /ə/. The IPA phonetic transcription for quaver is /ˈkwævər/, indicating the exact pronunciation of each sound in the word. Quaver is often used in music to describe a musical note with a short, wavering sound.

QUAVER Meaning and Definition

  1. Quaver is a verb and a noun that possesses several meanings depending on its context. As a verb, it refers to a musical term and means to produce a trembling or vibrating sound, particularly in a person's voice or in a musical instrument. This trembling can result from nervousness, fear, or the inability to maintain a steady pitch. Musicians often refer to quavering as a rapid oscillation between two adjacent musical pitches.

    As a noun, quaver refers to a musical note that is played for one-eighth the duration of a whole note. In sheet music, it is represented by an open oval shape with a stem. The quaver is significant in contributing to the rhythmic structure of a musical composition, providing a short and distinct duration to the sound.

    Beyond its musical connotations, quaver can also be used metaphorically to describe the trembling or shaking of a person's voice due to emotions or vulnerability. This can occur when someone is anxious, frightened, or overcome with sentiment.

    In a broader context, quaver may also mean to shake or tremble due to weakness or old age. It can describe a slight, rapid movement or vibration in general, not limited to music or vocalization.

    Overall, quaver encompasses various notions of trembling, shaking, and vibrating, particularly within the realms of music, voice, and emotional expression.

  2. • To tremble; to vibrate; in music, to produce a note with a tremulous modulation of the voice.
    • A musical note of very short time, equal to half a crotchet; a rapid vibration of the voice.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for QUAVER

Etymology of QUAVER

The word "quaver" originated from Middle English "quaveren", which derived from the Old English "cwǣfan", meaning "to tremble" or "to vibrate". This Old English word has Germanic roots and is akin to the Dutch "kwabbeln" and the German "quabbeln", both meaning "to quiver" or "to wobble". Over time, "quaver" came to be associated with a trembling or shaking sound, particularly in the context of singing or playing a musical instrument, leading to its current usage.

Similar spelling words for QUAVER

Plural form of QUAVER is QUAVERS

Conjugate verb Quaver

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have quavered
you would have quavered
he/she/it would have quavered
we would have quavered
they would have quavered
I would have quaver
you would have quaver
he/she/it would have quaver
we would have quaver
they would have quaver

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been quavering
you would have been quavering
he/she/it would have been quavering
we would have been quavering
they would have been quavering

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would quaver
you would quaver
he/she/it would quaver
we would quaver
they would quaver

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be quavering
you would be quavering
he/she/it would be quavering
we would be quavering
they would be quavering

FUTURE

I will quaver
you will quaver
he/she/it will quaver
we will quaver
they will quaver

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be quavering
you will be quavering
he/she/it will be quavering
we will be quavering
they will be quavering

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have quavered
you will have quavered
he/she/it will have quavered
we will have quavered
they will have quavered

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been quavering
you will have been quavering
he/she/it will have been quavering
we will have been quavering
they will have been quavering

IMPERATIVE

you quaver
we let´s quaver

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to quaver

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was quavering
you were quavering
he/she/it was quavering
we were quavering
they were quavering

PAST PARTICIPLE

quavered

PAST PERFECT

I had quavered
you had quavered
he/she/it had quavered
we had quavered
they had quavered

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been quavering
you had been quavering
he/she/it had been quavering
we had been quavering
they had been quavering

PRESENT

I quaver
you quaver
he/she/it quavers
we quaver
they quaver

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am quavering
you are quavering
he/she/it is quavering
we are quavering
they are quavering

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

quavering

PRESENT PERFECT

I have quavered
you have quavered
he/she/it has quavered
we have quavered
they have quavered

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been quavering
you have been quavering
he/she/it has been quavering
we have been quavering
they have been quavering

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it quaver

SIMPLE PAST

I quavered
you quavered
he/she/it quavered
we quavered
they quavered

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