verb / noun

shake

SHAYK/ʃeɪk/

Repeated rapid movement back and forth.

The older man shakes a capped bottle of orange juice up and down.

An older man vigorously shakes a clear, tightly capped bottle of orange juice up and down.

Etymology

shakeOld Englishto move rapidly to and fro

The Old English verb already covered both moving something rapidly back and forth and trembling from cold, fever, or fear. The modern motion sense preserves that shared idea of repeated movement.

In context

Pharmacist Virginia Chachati0:12

And it will normally have two separate layers of liquid. So you need to shake the bottle before you apply it.

How to apply Calamine lotion on chicken pox - How to apply calamine lotion on face

More examples

My hands shake when I get too cold.
The passing truck shook the windows.
She gives the dusty rug a few hard shakes.

Forms

shake · shakes · shook · shaken · shaking

shaky adjective — Trembling or moving unsteadily rather than smoothly.

shaker noun — A container shaken to mix its contents.

Similar words

tremble: Usually describes involuntary shaking from cold, fear, or weakness.
quiver: Suggests a slight, quick shaking rather than forceful movement.
vibrate: Emphasizes very rapid, small movements, often caused by machinery.