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Definition of quaver : 1. A shake, or rapid and tremulous vibration, of the voice, or of an instrument of music.
2. An eighth note. See Eighth.
3. Especially, to shake the voice; to utter or form sound with rapid or tremulous vibrations, as in singing; also, to trill on a musical instrument
4. To tremble; to vibrate; to shake.
5. To utter with quavers.

Synonyms:

jounce, totter, fluctuate, warble, hesitate, sway, falter, vacillate, flitter, twitter, brandish, rock, flap, flicker, waver, weave, oscillate, repetition, thrill, waffle, reel, wave, swing, descant, joggle, flutter, yodel, eighth note, vibrate, tremble, trill

jolt, disquiet, shake, quiver, fluster, churn, shudder, quake, stir, trouble, twitch, upset, jar, perturb, palpitate, agitate, shiver

Usage examples:

• He rose, and in a shrill little quaver he bade her take his place. - "The Reclaimers", Margaret Hill McCarter.
• Mrs. Wix wailed it with a high quaver, then broke down into a long shudder of helplessness and woe. - "What Maisie Knew", Henry James.
• Banjo's voice had a quaver of earnestness in it that needed no daylight to enforce. - "The Rustler of Wind River", G. W. Ogden.