Adjacent Words

Shake definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHAKE, v.t. pret. shook; pp. shaken.
1. To cause to move with quick vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to agitate; as, the wind shakes a tree; an earthquake shakes the hills or the earth.
I shook my lap, and said, so God shake out every man from his house-
Nehemiah 5
He shook the sacred honors of his head. Dryden.
-As a fig casteth her untimely fruit, when it is shaken of a mighty wind.
Revelation 6.
2. To make to totter or tremble.
The rapid wheels shake the heav'n's basis. Milton.
3. To cause to shiver; as, an ague shakes the whole frame.
4. To throw down by a violent motion.
Macbeth is ripe for shaking. Shak.
[But see shake off, which is generally used.]
5. To throw away; to drive off.
'Tis our first intent
To shake all cares and business from our age. [See Shake off.] Shak.
6. To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to endanger; to threaten to overthrow. Nothing should shake our belief in the being and perfections of God, and in our own accountableness.
7. To cause to waver or doubt; to impair the resolution of; to depress the courage of.
That ye be not soon shaken in mind. 2 Th 2.
8. To trill; as, to shake a note in music.
To shake hands, sometimes, to unite with; to aggree or contract with; more generally, to take leave of, from the practice of shaking hands at meeting and parting.
To shake off, to drive off; to throw off or down by violence; as, to shake off the dust of the feet; also, to rid one's self; to free from; to divest of; as, to shake off disease or grief; to shake off troublesome dependents.
SHAKE, v.i.
1. To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; as, the tree shakes with the wind; the house shakes in a tempest.
The foundations of the earth do shake. Isaiah 24.
2. To tremble; to shiver; to quake; as, a man shakes in an ague; or he shakes with cold, or with terror.
3. To totter.
Under his burning wheels
The steadfast empyrean shook throught,
All but the throne itself of God. Milton.
SHAKE, n.
1. Concussion; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and the other; agitation.
The great soldier's honor was composed of thicker stuff which could endure a shake. Herbert.
2. A trembling or shivering; agitation.
3. A motion of hands clasped.
Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand. Addison.
4. In music, a trill; a rapid reiteration of two notes comprehending an interval not greater than one whole tone, nor less than a semitone.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: building material used as siding or roofing [syn: shingle, shake]
2: frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or ice cream [syn: milkshake, milk shake, shake]
3: a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it [syn: trill, shake]
4: grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract) [syn: handshake, shake, handshaking, handclasp]
5: a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement [syn: tremble, shiver, shake]
6: causing to move repeatedly from side to side [syn: wag, waggle, shake] v
1: move or cause to move back and forth; "The chemist shook the flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking" [syn: shake, agitate]
2: move with or as if with a tremor; "his hands shook" [syn: shake, didder]
3: shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively; "The old engine was juddering" [syn: judder, shake]
4: move back and forth or sideways; "the ship was rocking"; "the tall building swayed"; "She rocked back and forth on her feet" [syn: rock, sway, shake]
5: undermine or cause to waver; "my faith has been shaken"; "The bad news shook her hopes"
6: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; "These stories shook the community"; "the civil war shook the country" [syn: stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir]
7: get rid of; "I couldn't shake the car that was following me" [syn: shake, shake off, throw off, escape from]
8: bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking; "He was shaken from his dreams"; "shake the salt out of the salt shaker"
9: shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state; "shake one's head"; "She shook her finger at the naughty students"; "The old enemies shook hands"; "Don't shake your fist at me!"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (shook; shaken; shaking) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sceacan; akin to Old Norse skaka to shake Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to move irregularly to and fro 2. to vibrate especially as the result of a blow or shock 3. to tremble as a result of physical or emotional disturbance <shook with fear> 4. to experience a state of instability ; totter 5. to briskly move something to and fro or up and down especially in order to mix <shake well before opening> 6. to clasp hands 7. trill III transitive verb 1. to brandish, wave, or flourish often in a threatening manner <protesters shaking their fists> 2. to cause to move to and fro, up and down, or from side to side especially in a repetitive, rhythmic, or quick jerky manner <shook his head in disapproval> 3. to cause to quake, quiver, or tremble 4. a. to free oneself from <shake a habit> <shake off a cold> b. to get away from ; get rid of <can you shake your friend? I want to talk to you alone — Elmer Davis> 5. to lessen the stability of ; weaken <shake one's faith> 6. to bring to a specified condition by or as if by repeated quick jerky movements <shook himself loose from the man's grasp> 7. to dislodge or eject by quick jerky movements of the support or container <shook the dust from the cloth> 8. to clasp (hands) in greeting or farewell or as a sign of goodwill or agreement 9. to stir the feelings of ; upset, agitate <shook her up> 10. trill III • shakable or shakeable adjective Synonyms: shake, agitate, rock, convulse mean to move up and down or to and fro with some violence. shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose <shake well before using>. agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring <an ocean agitated by storms>. rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval <the whole city was rocked by the explosion>. convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm <spectators were convulsed with laughter>. II. noun Date: 1581 1. an act of shaking: as a. an act of shaking hands b. an act of shaking oneself 2. a. a blow or shock that upsets the equilibrium or disturbs the balance of something b. earthquake 3. plural a. a condition of trembling or nervousness; specifically delirium tremens b. malaria 2a 4. something produced by shaking: as a. a fissure separating annual rings of growth in timber b. (1) milk shake (2) a beverage resembling a milk shake but made without milk 5. a wavering, quivering, or alternating motion caused by a blow or shock 6. trill 7. a very brief period of time <I'll be there in two shakes> 8. plural one that is exceptional especially in importance, ability, or merit — usually used in the phrase no great shakes 9. a shingle split from a piece of log usually three or four feet (about one meter) long 10. deal III,3 <a fair shake>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. (past shook; past part. shaken) 1 tr. & intr. move forcefully or quickly up and down or to and fro. 2 a intr. tremble or vibrate markedly. b tr. cause to do this. 3 tr. a agitate or shock. b colloq. upset the composure of. 4 tr. weaken or impair; make less convincing or firm or courageous (shook his confidence). 5 intr. (of a voice, note, etc.) make tremulous or rapidly alternating sounds; trill (his voice shook with emotion). 6 tr. brandish; make a threatening gesture with (one's fist, a stick, etc.). 7 intr. colloq. shake hands (they shook on the deal). 8 tr. esp. US colloq. = shake off. --n. 1 the act or an instance of shaking; the process of being shaken. 2 a jerk or shock. 3 (in pl.; prec. by the) a fit of or tendency to trembling or shivering. 4 Mus. a trill. 5 = milk shake. Phrases and idioms: in two shakes (of a lamb's or dog's tail) very quickly. no great shakes colloq. not very good or significant. shake a person by the hand = shake hands. shake down 1 settle or cause to fall by shaking. 2 settle down. 3 become established; get into harmony with circumstances, surroundings, etc. 4 US sl. extort money from. shake the dust off one's feet depart indignantly or disdainfully. shake hands (often foll. by with) clasp right hands at meeting or parting, in reconciliation or congratulation, or over a concluded bargain. shake one's head move one's head from side to side in refusal, denial, disapproval, or concern. shake in one's shoes tremble with apprehension. shake a leg 1 begin dancing. 2 make a start. shake off 1 get rid of (something unwanted). 2 manage to evade (a person who is following or pestering one). shake out 1 empty by shaking. 2 spread or open (a sail, flag, etc.) by shaking. shake-out n. = shake-up. shake up 1 mix (ingredients) by shaking. 2 restore to shape by shaking. 3 disturb or make uncomfortable. 4 rouse from lethargy, apathy, conventionality, etc. shake-up n. an upheaval or drastic reorganization. Derivatives: shakeable adj. (also shakable). Etymology: OE sc(e)acan f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shake Shake, v. t. [imp. Shook; p. p. Shaken, (Shook, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Shaking.] [OE. shaken, schaken, AS. scacan, sceacan; akin to Icel. & Sw. skaka, OS. skakan, to depart, to flee. [root]161. Cf. Shock, v.] 1. To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate. As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. --Rev. vi. 13. Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels That shake heaven's basis. --Milton. 2. Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of. When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation. --Atterbury. Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced. --Milton. 3. (Mus.) To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music. 4. To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; -- generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree. Shake off the golden slumber of repose. --Shak. 'Tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age. --Shak. I could scarcely shake him out of my company. --Bunyan. To shake a cask (Naut.), to knock a cask to pieces and pack the staves. To shake hands, to perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc. To shake out a reef (Naut.), to untile the reef points and spread more canvas. To shake the bells. See under Bell. To shake the sails (Naut.), to luff up in the wind, causing the sails to shiver. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shake Shake, obs. p. p. of Shake. --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shake Shake, v. i. To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter. Under his burning wheels The steadfast empyrean shook throughout, All but the throne itself of God. --Milton. What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there? --Beau. & Fl. Shaking piece, a name given by butchers to the piece of beef cut from the under side of the neck. See Illust. of Beef.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shake Shake, n. 1. The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation. The great soldier's honor was composed Of thicker stuff, which could endure a shake. --Herbert. Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand. --Addison. 2. A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly. --Gwilt. 3. A fissure in rock or earth. 4. (Mus.) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill. 5. (Naut.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart. --Totten. 6. A shook of staves and headings. --Knight. 7. (Zo["o]l.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground. [Prov. Eng.] No great shakes, of no great importance. [Slang] --Byron. The shakes, the fever and ague. [Colloq. U.S.]

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(shakes, shaking, shook, shaken) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you shake something, you hold it and move it quickly backwards and forwards or up and down. You can also shake a person, for example, because you are angry with them or because you want them to wake up. The nurse shook the thermometer and put it under my armpit... Shake the rugs well and hang them for a few hours before replacing on the floor... VERB: V n, V n • Shake is also a noun. She picked up the bag of salad and gave it a shake. N-COUNT: usu sing 2. If you shake yourself or your body, you make a lot of quick, small, repeated movements without moving from the place where you are. As soon as he got inside, the dog shook himself... He shook his hands to warm them up. VERB: V pron-refl, V n • Shake is also a noun. Take some slow, deep breaths and give your body a bit of a shake. N-COUNT 3. If you shake your head, you turn it from side to side in order to say 'no' or to show disbelief or sadness. 'Anything else?' Colum asked. Kathryn shook her head wearily... VERB: V n • Shake is also a noun. Palmer gave a sad shake of his head. N-COUNT 4. If you are shaking, or a part of your body is shaking, you are making quick, small movements that you cannot control, for example because you are cold or afraid. My hand shook so much that I could hardly hold the microphone... I stood there, crying and shaking with fear. VERB: V, V with n 5. If you shake your fist or an object such as a stick at someone, you wave it in the air in front of them because you are angry with them. The colonel rushed up to Earle, shaking his gun at him... VERB: V n at n 6. If a force shakes something, or if something shakes, it moves from side to side or up and down with quick, small, but sometimes violent movements. ...an explosion that shook buildings several kilometers away... The breeze grew in strength, the flags shook, plastic bunting creaked. VERB: V n, V 7. To shake something into a certain place or state means to bring it into that place or state by moving it quickly up and down or from side to side. Small insects can be collected by shaking them into a jar... Shake off any excess flour before putting livers in the pan... VERB: V n prep, V n with adv 8. If your voice is shaking, you cannot control it properly and it sounds very unsteady, for example because you are nervous or angry. His voice shaking with rage, he asked how the committee could keep such a report from the public. VERB: V with n, also V 9. If an event or a piece of news shakes you, or shakes your confidence, it makes you feel upset and unable to think calmly. The news of Tandy's escape had shaken them all... VERB: V n • shaken Unhurt, but a bit shaken, she was trying not to cry. ADJ: usu v-link ADJ 10. If an event shakes a group of people or their beliefs, it causes great uncertainty and makes them question their beliefs. It won't shake the football world if we beat Torquay... VERB: V n 11. A shake is the same as a milkshake. He sent his driver to fetch him a strawberry shake. N-COUNT 12. If you say that someone or something is no great shakes, you mean that they are not very skilful or effective. (INFORMAL) I'm no great shakes as a detective... The protests have failed partly because the opposition politicians are no great shakes. PHRASE: v-link PHR 13. If you shake someone's hand or shake someone by the hand, you shake hands with them. I said congratulations and walked over to him and shook his hand... PHRASE: V inflects 14. If you shake hands with someone, you take their right hand in your own for a few moments, often moving it up and down slightly, when you are saying hello or goodbye to them, congratulating them, or agreeing on something. You can also say that two people shake hands. He nodded greetings to Mary Ann and Michael and shook hands with Burke... PHRASE: V inflects, PHR with n, pl-n PHR 15. to shake the foundations of something: see foundation

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Agitate, convulse, jar, jolt, make to tremble or quiver. 2. Intimidate, frighten, daunt. 3. Endanger, weaken, move, make less firm, threaten to overthrow. 4. Agitate, wave, vibrate. 5. Move, remove, throw off, rid one's self of, put away. 6. Trill. II. v. n. Tremble, quake, quiver, totter, shudder, shiver. III. n. 1. Agitation, concussion, jar, jolt, shaking, tremor, shock, trembling, shivering. 2. Trill. 3. Crack (in timber), fissure, cleft.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To shake one's elbow; to game with dice. To shake a cloth in the wind; to be hanged in chains.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

To draw any thing from the pocket. He shook the swell of his fogle; he robbed the gentleman of his silk handkerchief.

Moby Thesaurus

Bebung, abandon, abate, accost, address, affright, age, agitate, agitating, agitation, alarm, alcoholic drink, all-overs, anthem, aphonia, appall, artificial voice, assault, attenuate, avoid, awe, ballad, be cold, beam, bear, bear upon, beat, beat up, beating, beg, beverage, bid good day, bid good morning, billet, blackmail, blunt, board, boarding, bob, bobble, boost, bother, bounce, bow to, bowl down, bowl over, brandish, break in, break the habit, breath, breathing, brick, broken speech, broken tones, broken voice, brush off, buck, bull, bulldoze, bump, bump against, bunt, butt, butt against, careen, carol, chant, chatter, cheat the undertaker, childish treble, chill, chirp, chirrup, choir, choked voice, chorus, churn, churn up, circumvent, clapboard, clog, coggle, comb, concuss, condition, confound, confuse, convulse, cord, cordwood, coup, cower, crack, cracked voice, cram, cramp, cripple, croak, croon, crow, crowd, crush, curdle the blood, curtsy, damage, damp, dampen, dance, dangle, dash, daunt, deaden, deal, debilitate, debug, decline, delirium tremens, demoralize, descant, deter, devitalize, didder, dig, disaffect, disappoint, disarrange, discard, discombobulate, discomfit, discompose, disconcert, discontinue, discourage, disenchant, dishearten, dislodge, disorder, display, disquiet, distress, disturb, ditch, dither, do-re-mi, dodder, double, drawl, driftwood, drink, drinkable, drive, drop, dull, dysarthria, dyslalia, dyslogia, dysphasia, dysphonia, dysphrasia, elbow, electrify, elude, enervate, enfeeble, escape, evade, eviscerate, exchange greetings, excite, exhaust, exhibit, extenuate, face, fade, fail, falsetto, falter, faze, ferment, fidget, firewood, flap, flash, flaunt, flicker, flip out, flit, flitter, float, flop, flourish, fluctuate, flurry, fluster, flutter, fly, foot, force, fox-trot, freak out on, freeze, freeze to death, fret, fright, frighten, frosted, frosted shake, funk, get along, get around, get away from, get high on, get on, get out of, get rid of, get to, give up, glass, glaze, glow, go pitapat, goad, greet, grimace, grind, grow cold, grow old, gruel, gyrate, gyration, hail, half a jiffy, half a mo, half a second, half a shake, halt, hardwood, harm, harshness, have a chill, have an ague, have goose pimples, have the fidgets, have the shakes, hawking voice, heave, hiss, hoarseness, hold up, hoof, hop, horrify, horripilate, hum, hurtle, hustle, hymn, idioglossia, idiolalia, impair, impairment of speech, instant, intonate, intone, jab, jactitate, jam, jar, jarring, jerk, jiff, jiffy, jig, jigget, jiggle, jimjams, jog, joggle, jolt, jolting, jostle, jounce, jump, jumps, kick, kiss, kiss hands, knock down, lath, lathing, lathwork, lay low, leave off, librate, lift the hat, lilt, limp, liquid, liquor, lisp, lisping, log, look all over, look everywhere, lose, lose heat, loss of voice, lumber, lurch, make one tremble, malt, microsecond, millisecond, mince, minstrel, minute, mitigate, mix up, moment, muzzy speech, nasal tone, nasalization, nod to, nudge, nutate, oscillate, outwit, overawe, overcome, paddle, palpitate, palpitation, panelboard, paneling, panelwork, pant, paper, parade, pendulate, perish with cold, perplex, perturb, perturbate, pile drive, pipe, pitapat, pitch, pitter-patter, plank, planking, plyboard, plywood, poke, pole, pop, post, potable, potation, prance, press, prod, prostrate, prove, psalm, psych out, pull the forelock, pulsate, pump, punch, puncheon, push, puzzle, quail, quake, quaker, quaking, quaver, quiver, quivering, raise apprehensions, rake, ram, ram down, ransack, rattle, reduce, reel, resonate, revet, rictus, rifle, rile, ripple, rock, roil, roll, roughen, roulade, ruffle, rummage, rumple, run, run against, salute, sap, say hello, scare, scour, search high heaven, sec, second, serenade, shake all over, shake down, shake hands, shake off, shake up, shaking, sheathe, sheathing, sheathing board, sheeting, shimmy, shingle, shiver, shivering, shivers, shock, shoulder, shove, show off, shrivel, shudder, shuddering, shuffle, shuffle out of, sibilation, sideboard, siding, sing, sing in chorus, sink, skip, skirt, slab, slat, slate, slip, soda, soda pop, soda water, soft drink, soften up, softwood, sol-fa, solmizate, speech defect, speech impediment, splat, split second, splutter, spook, sputter, squeeze, squirm, stagger, startle, stave, stick, stick of wood, stir, stir up, stirring up, stone, stop, stovewood, stress, stroke, stun, swag, sway, swear off, swell, swell with emotion, swing, swirl, take aback, talk incoherently, tamp, tap-dance, teeter, temblor, test, thatch, the shakes, threaten, three-by-four, thrill, thrill to, throb, throw off, thrust, tic, tick, tile, timber, timbering, timberwork, tingle, tingle with excitement, tonic, toss, toss and turn, totter, touch the hat, tremble, trembling, tremolando, tremolant, tremolo, tremor, tremors, trice, trill, trillet, trilleto, trillo, trip, troll, trouble, tumble, turn gray, turn inside out, turn on to, turn upside down, turn white, twang, tweedle, tweedledee, twink, twinkle, twinkling, twist and turn, twit, twitch, twitter, two shakes, two-by-four, unbrace, uncover, undermine, undo, undulate, unman, unnerve, unsettle, unstrengthen, unstring, upset, vacillate, vaunt, veneer, vibrate, vibrato, vocalize, wag, waggle, wall in, wall up, wallpaper, waltz, wane, warble, waste away, wave, waver, wavering, weaken, weatherboard, whip, whip up, whisk, whistle, wield, wiggle, wigwag, willies, wink, wither, wizen, wobble, wobbling, wood, work up, worry, wriggle, wrinkle, writhe, yodel