Word
vibrator
Phoneticsvi·bra·tor
US/ˈvaɪbɹeɪtɝ/
UK/vaɪbɹˈeɪtɐ/
Definition
n. a small machine that shakes very quickly. It is often used for massage or for sexual pleasure.
n. a device that produces mechanical oscillations or rapid shaking movements. While used in industrial and medical contexts for massage or mixing, it most commonly refers to a battery-operated device used for sexual stimulation.
Examples
“The handheld vibrator helps relax my sore neck muscles.”
“She bought a small battery-powered vibrator to help relieve the tension in her shoulders after a long day at the office.”
“In industrial chemistry, a high-frequency vibrator is often employed to ensure that powders do not clump together while being fed into the processing machinery.”
Examples
simple
“The handheld vibrator helps relax my sore neck muscles.”
contextual
“She bought a small battery-powered vibrator to help relieve the tension in her shoulders after a long day at the office.”
complex
“In industrial chemistry, a high-frequency vibrator is often employed to ensure that powders do not clump together while being fed into the processing machinery.”
Usage
In modern contexts, the word is most frequently associated with adult products; use 'massager' or 'oscillator' in professional or technical settings to avoid ambiguity.
Etymology
From New Latin vibrātor, from Latin vibrō (“to vibrate”). By surface analysis, vibrate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.