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Shake Very Common

Shake has 18 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

building material used as siding or roofing

"The carpenter installed wooden shake along the roofline to protect the house from rain and wind."

2

frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or ice cream

"He ordered a vanilla shake topped with whipped cream to go with his breakfast."

3

a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it

"The violinist played a delicate shake on the high E string to add emotional depth to the melody."

4

grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)

"After signing the agreement, they shook hands to seal the deal."

5

a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

"His hands began to shake violently as he saw the snake approaching."

6

causing to move repeatedly from side to side

"The strong wind shook the old tree, making its branches sway violently back and forth."

7

The act of shaking or being shaken; tremulous or back-and-forth motion.

"The old bridge gave a violent shake as the heavy truck crossed it."

In plain English: A shake is an old-fashioned unit of time equal to one twenty-fourth of a second, often used when describing something that happens very quickly or briefly.

"The ground shook from the earthquake, making everyone rush outside for safety."

Verb
1

move or cause to move back and forth

"The chemist shook the flask vigorously"

"My hands were shaking"

2

move with or as if with a tremor

"his hands shook"

3

shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively

"The old engine was juddering"

4

move back and forth or sideways

"the ship was rocking"

"the tall building swayed"

"She rocked back and forth on her feet"

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"

7

get rid of

"I couldn't shake the car that was following me"

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!"

10

To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly.

"The strong wind made the old tree shake violently, causing its branches to sway back and forth."

In plain English: To shake something means to move it back and forth quickly so that it vibrates or falls apart.

"Please shake hands with your new neighbor when you meet them."

Usage: Use this verb when describing the physical action of moving something up and down, side to side, or backward and forward with a quick rhythm. It is often confused with "shiver," which implies an involuntary trembling caused by cold rather than deliberate movement.

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"Mr. Shake waved to his neighbors as he walked down the street."

Example Sentences
"The ground shook from the earthquake, making everyone rush outside for safety." noun
"Please shake hands with your new neighbor when you meet them." verb
"She shook her head to say no without speaking." verb
"The baby began to shake from the cold night air." verb
"I will shake out my coat before entering the room." verb
See Also
drink milk movement rattle hand ice cream action
Related Terms
drink milk movement rattle hand ice cream action ice cream greeting milk drink shaker rattle roll roll shiver tremble motion earthquake move dessert
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
building material drink note acknowledgment reflex agitation move move involuntarily vibrate move back and forth weaken arouse escape change gesticulate
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
eggshake frappe malted fluff up fan tremble tremor palpitate convulse sparge succuss concuss rattle jiggle roll nutate swag totter fuel arouse frighten thrill tempt elate inspire titillate

Origin

The word "shake" comes from Old English, where it originally meant to shake, swing, or even escape. Its roots trace back further to ancient languages that described jumping and moving.

Rhyming Words
ake sake lake make fake pake nake kake dake cake hake bake wake jake rake wrake otake omake flake drake
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