# tremor

/ˈtɹɛmɝ/ (US) · /tɹˈɛmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tremor
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. body/voice shaking

noun · CEFR B2

a slight shaking movement in your body or voice, often caused by fear, excitement, or illness.

For teachers: an involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction leading to shaking movements in one or more parts of the body.

- I could hear a slight tremor in her voice as she began her speech.
- The patient exhibited a resting tremor in his right hand, which became less pronounced during purposeful movement.

### 2. earthquake

noun · CEFR B2

a small earthquake or a slight shaking of the ground.

For teachers: a relatively minor seismic vibration of the earth's crust.

- The city felt a small tremor last night, but no buildings were damaged.
- Seismologists recorded a series of minor tremors preceding the major volcanic eruption by several hours.

### 3. to shake

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to shake or tremble quickly and uncontrollably.

For teachers: to undergo rapid, involuntary oscillation or trembling.

- The leaves began to tremor as the cold wind blew through the valley.
- His hands continued to tremor long after the immediate danger had passed, reflecting his deep psychological distress.

## Examples

- She noticed a slight tremor in her hands as she spoke.
- The doctor observed a persistent tremor in the patient's fingers while they were at rest, suggesting a neurological cause.
- Seismologists recorded a series of minor tremors throughout the afternoon, though none were powerful enough to cause structural damage to the coastal infrastructure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.