SHIVER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does shiver mean? 

• SHIVER (noun)
  The noun SHIVER has 2 senses:

1. a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

2. an almost pleasurable sensation of fright

  Familiarity information: SHIVER used as a noun is rare.

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

1. tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

2. shake, as from cold

  Familiarity information: SHIVER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHIVER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

shake; shiver; tremble

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

inborn reflex; innate reflex; instinctive reflex; physiological reaction; reflex; reflex action; reflex response; unconditioned reflex (an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus)

Derivation:

shiver (shake, as from cold)

shivery (cold enough to cause shivers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An almost pleasurable sensation of fright

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

chill; frisson; quiver; shiver; shudder; thrill; tingle

Context example:

a frisson of surprise shot through him

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

fear; fearfulness; fright (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))

Derivation:

shiver (tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement)

shivery (provoking fear terror)

• SHIVER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they shiver    ... he / she / it shivers   
Past simple: shivered   
Past participle: shivered   
-ing form: shivering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder; thrill; throb

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

tremble (move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shiver (an almost pleasurable sensation of fright)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Shake, as from cold

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder

Context example:

The children are shivering--turn on the heat!

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

move involuntarily; move reflexively (move in an uncontrolled manner)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

shiver (a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement)

shivering (a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever)

 Context examples 

Oh, shiver my soul, he cried, if I had eyes!

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I then paused, and a cold shivering came over me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“I have seen her in the streets,” he answered, with a shiver.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Shrinking, almost shivering, he still managed to hold himself together.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“I am afraid,” she whispered, with a shiver. “I am so afraid.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

What can have put the shivers on him?

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She shivered and drew away from him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Bless the girl, what are you shivering about?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Oh, what will he say when he comes to that awful fifty dollars!" thought Meg, with a shiver.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Shivering or moderate tremors of the body often accompanied by a cold sensation.

(Chills, NCI Thesaurus)