Qua"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quavered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Quavering.] [OE. quaven to shake, to tremble; cf. LG. quabbeln to shake, to be soft, of fat substances, quabbe a fat lump of flesh, a dewlap, D. kwabbe, and E. quiver, v.] 1. To tremble; to vibrate; to shake. Sir I. Newton.

2. 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

Qua"ver, v. t. To utter with quavers.

We shall hear her quavering them . . . to some sprightly airs of the opera.

Qua"ver, n. 1. A shake, or rapid and tremulous vibration, of the voice, or of an instrument of music.

2. (Mus.) An eighth note. See Eighth.

• a trembling shake.
  
• a trembling of the voice, as in speaking or singing.
  
• (Music) an eighth note, drawn as a crotchet (quarter note) with a tail.
  
• to shake in a trembling manner.
  
• to use the voice in a trembling manner, as in speaking or singing.