DITHER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dither mean? 

• DITHER (noun)
  The noun DITHER has 1 sense:

1. an excited state of agitation

  Familiarity information: DITHER used as a noun is very rare.

• DITHER (verb)
  The verb DITHER has 2 senses:

1. act nervously; be undecided; be uncertain

2. make a fuss; be agitated

  Familiarity information: DITHER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DITHER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An excited state of agitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

dither; flap; fuss; pother; tizzy

Context example:

there was a terrible flap about the theft

Hypernyms ("dither" is a kind of...):

agitation (a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance)

Derivation:

dither (make a fuss; be agitated)

• DITHER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they dither    ... he / she / it dithers   
Past simple: dithered   
Past participle: dithered   
-ing form: dithering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act nervously; be undecided; be uncertain

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "dither" is one way to...):

fret (be agitated or irritated)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a fuss; be agitated

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

dither; flap; pother

Hypernyms (to "dither" is one way to...):

fret; fuss; niggle (worry unnecessarily or excessively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

dither (an excited state of agitation)