tremor
gb/tɹˈɛmɚ/ us/tɹˈɛmɚ/
B2
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
involuntary shaking of the body
A small shaking you cannot control in part of your body, usually in your hands, often because of illness, age, or feeling nervous.
Usage pattern:
a tremor in [body part]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the noun 'tremor' with the verb 'tremble'. Use 'tremor' as a thing (noun): 'He has a tremor in his hands.' Use 'tremble' as an action (verb): 'His hands tremble when he writes.'
Synonyms
shaking (More general and informal; does not always suggest a medical or involuntary cause.)
|
trembling (Similar meaning but often stresses nervousness or fear more than a long-term medical condition.)
Antonyms
steadiness (Highlights the absence of unwanted shaking or movement.)
Collocations
hand tremor
|slight tremor
|noticeable tremor
|a tremor in his hands
|Parkinsonian tremor
|resting tremor
Themes
health
|science
|daily life
|body
Examples
- The doctor noticed a slight tremor in her right hand.
- His tremor got worse when he tried to hold the cup still.
- A fine tremor in the fingers can be an early sign of the disease.
- Stress and caffeine can make an existing hand tremor more obvious.
- After the operation, the tremor in his arms gradually decreased.
Learner examples
- The old man had a tremor in his hands.
- She tried to write, but her tremor made it hard.
- The nurse saw a small tremor in his fingers.
- Because of the tremor, he used both hands to hold the glass.
- My grandfather’s hand tremor is worse when he is tired.
Noun
B2
event
2
small or minor earthquake
A small shaking of the ground, weaker than a big earthquake.
Usage pattern:
an earth tremor in [place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'tremor' when they mean a large, destructive earthquake. Use 'tremor' for small or light shaking of the ground, and 'major earthquake' or 'strong quake' for big events.
Synonyms
quake (Informal, shorter word; can refer to both small tremors and larger earthquakes.)
|
earthquake (General term; often suggests a stronger or more serious event than 'tremor'.)
Antonyms
stability (Refers to the ground remaining firm and unmoving.)
Collocations
earth tremor
|minor tremor
|slight tremor
|a tremor was felt
|tremor hit the region
|aftershock tremor
Themes
nature
|science
|news
Examples
- A mild tremor was felt across the city early this morning.
- The region has experienced several small tremors this week.
- People ran outside when the tremor shook the buildings.
- Sensors recorded a tremor about 30 kilometers offshore.
- The first tremor was followed by a much stronger quake.
Learner examples
- We felt a short tremor during the night.
- A small tremor shook the cups on the table.
- The news said the town had a light tremor.
- After the tremor, everyone checked their homes for damage.
- The tremor scared the children, but nothing was broken.
Noun
C1
event
3
slight shaking in something
A small shake in something, like a voice, a table, or a crowd.
Usage pattern:
a tremor in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the medical sense and add a body part: 'a tremor in his voice' is correct for this sense, but 'a tremor in his hand' normally refers to the medical or physical shaking sense.
Synonyms
quiver (Often used for quick, light shaking, especially of a voice or small object; slightly more literary.)
|
shudder (Suggests a stronger or more sudden shake than 'tremor'.)
Antonyms
stillness (Emphasizes the complete lack of movement.)
Collocations
a tremor in his voice
|a tremor ran through the crowd
|a faint tremor
|a tremor passed through
|a tremor of movement
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a tremor in his voice as he spoke about the accident.
- A tremor ran through the audience when the verdict was read out.
- She felt a slight tremor in the chair as the truck passed by.
- The glass lamp showed a faint tremor as the wind hit the window.
- He tried to hide the tremor in his voice during the interview.
Learner examples
- I heard a tremor in her voice when she said goodbye.
- A small tremor passed through the room when the door closed hard.
- There was a tremor in the table when the train went by.
- He spoke calmly, without any tremor in his voice.
- When the loud noise came, a tremor went through the class.
Noun
C1
event
4
slight feeling of emotion
A short, small feeling of a strong emotion, like fear or excitement.
Usage pattern:
a tremor of [emotion]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use 'tremor' alone for emotions, as in *'He had tremor' to mean 'He was afraid'. Instead, use the pattern 'a tremor of [emotion]': 'He felt a tremor of fear.'
Synonyms
pang (Often used for sudden feelings of pain, guilt, or sadness; more literary than 'tremor'.)
|
flutter (Suggests a light, quick feeling in the chest or stomach, often from excitement or nerves.)
Antonyms
calm (Describes a state without sudden or strong emotional movement.)
Collocations
a tremor of fear
|a tremor of excitement
|a tremor of anxiety
|a tremor of anticipation
|a tremor of panic
Themes
emotions
|literature
Examples
- She felt a tremor of fear as she stepped onto the dark street.
- His words sent a tremor of excitement through the team.
- There was a brief tremor of anxiety before the results were announced.
- A tremor of doubt passed through her mind, but she signed the contract anyway.
- The news caused a tremor of panic in the financial markets.
Learner examples
- He felt a tremor of fear when he heard the noise.
- A tremor of excitement went through the students before the trip.
- She had a tremor of doubt but said nothing.
- The bad news gave him a tremor of panic.
- I felt a tremor of joy when I saw my friend.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tremor
IPA
GB/tɹˈɛmɚ/
US/tɹˈɛmɚ/
Syllables & stress
tremor (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tremor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tremor
- Plural: tremors
Word family
Expressions
a tremor in his voice
1/ə tɹˈɛmɚ ˈɪn hˈɪz vˈɔɪs/
fixed phrase
slight shaking in someone’s voice
A small shaking sound in a man’s voice, usually because of strong emotion such as fear, sadness, or excitement.
Examples
- There was a tremor in his voice as he apologized.
- I heard a tremor in his voice when he spoke about his family.
- The reporter spoke with a tremor in his voice as he described the scene.
a tremor of fear
1/ə tɹˈɛmɚ əv fˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
brief small feeling of fear
A short, small feeling of fear that you notice clearly.
Examples
- She felt a tremor of fear when she heard someone at the door.
- A tremor of fear passed through the crowd as the lights went out.
- He tried to smile, hiding the tremor of fear in his eyes.
earth tremor
1/ˈɚθ tɹˈɛmɚ/
fixed phrase
small local earthquake
A small earthquake that shakes the ground for a short time.
Examples
- Residents reported feeling an earth tremor just after midnight.
- The earth tremor rattled windows but caused no serious damage.
- We first thought it was a truck, but it was actually an earth tremor.