noun

tremor

TREM-er/ˈtremər/

A slight shaking or quivering movement.

The man's slight hand tremor creates ripples in the cup's water.

An older South Asian man holds a plain cup just above a tabletop; a slight tremor in his hand creates small ripples in the water.

Etymology

Latin tremor named both trembling and terror, linking the movement with a common cause. The selected English sense focuses on involuntary shaking, whether caused by fear, illness, or instability.

In context

Norton Healthcare0:34

while Tremor or shaking is commonly associated with Parkinson's disease not everyone with a condition experiences it

Are All Hand Tremors Parkinson’s Disease? Identifying Parkinson’s Signs and Symptoms

More examples

A passing truck sends a tremor through the floor.
There is a tremor in his voice as he apologizes.
The doctor checks her hands for tremors.

Forms

tremor · tremors

tremulous adjective — Shaking slightly, often from nervousness or weakness.

Similar words

quiver: Emphasizes a light, rapid trembling, often from strong emotion.
shiver: Usually suggests a brief shake caused by cold or fear.
vibration: Usually suggests repeated, regular movement, often caused by machinery.