THROB (throbbed, throbbing)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: throbbed    , throbbing   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does throb mean? 

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

1. a deep pulsating type of pain

2. an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)

  Familiarity information: THROB used as a noun is rare.

• THROB (verb)
  The verb THROB has 3 senses:

1. pulsate or pound with abnormal force

2. expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically

3. tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

  Familiarity information: THROB used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THROB (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A deep pulsating type of pain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

hurting; pain (a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder)

Derivation:

throb (pulsate or pound with abnormal force)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

pounding; throb; throbbing

Context example:

he felt a throbbing in his head

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

beat; heartbeat; pulsation; pulse (the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart)

Derivation:

throb (expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically)

throb (pulsate or pound with abnormal force)

• THROB (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they throb    ... he / she / it throbs   
Past simple: throbbed   
Past participle: throbbed   
-ing form: throbbing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pulsate or pound with abnormal force

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

Her heart was throbbing

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

ache; hurt; smart (be the source of pain)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "throb"):

twang (twitch or throb with pain)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

throb (an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart))

throb (a deep pulsating type of pain)

throbbing (an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

pulsate; pulse; throb

Context example:

The baby's heart was pulsating again after the surgeon massaged it

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

beat; pound; thump (move rhythmically)

Verb group:

beat; pulsate; quiver (move with or as if with a regular alternating motion)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence examples:

The crowds throb in the streets
The streets throb with crowds

Derivation:

throb (an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder; thrill; throb

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

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

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

When the throbbing I had seen before, came into it as I looked at her, she absolutely lifted up her hand, and struck it.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My heart beat fast and thick: I heard its throb.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

If we could only go faster! but we cannot; the engines are throbbing and doing their utmost.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Nay, I cannot say,” said Alleyne, with a wild throb of sudden hope in his heart.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His ankle was throbbing, and he gave it an examination.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He linked the past with the present, and the eternity behind him throbbed through him in a mighty rhythm to which he swayed as the tides and seasons swayed.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Check Yes or No if the adjective applies to your pain; throbbing.

(BPI - Throbbing, NCI Thesaurus)

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) Cardiovascular symptoms; tachycardia, palpitations, pain in chest, throbbing of vessels, fainting feelings, missing beat.

(HAMA - Cardiovascular Symptoms, NCI Thesaurus)

By the afternoon of that day—my pocket diary shows me that it was Tuesday, August 18th—at least six or seven drums were throbbing from various points.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The least sound of it was a stimulus to his love, and he thrilled and throbbed with every word she uttered.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)