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palpitation

palpitation

7.4
A quick, small shaking movement you can see or feel
  • noun
  • /ˌpæl.pɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
translation icon : vibración
  • Armelia was what you call a first-dimensional sensualist—every primary palpitation cranked up to the nth.

Examples

  • Afterwards, however, all that remains to keep the violence in check is the memory of the "dead mother," which, in view of Eveline's palpitations, does not constitute a reliable restraint.

    Academic text (2016)
  • After running up the stairs, I felt a rapid palpitation in my chest.

  • "You could give him the palpitations on top of all else.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Tony can only imagine the palpitation that must have caused in Coulson.

    Blog text (32)
  • During the suspenseful scene, the audience experienced a thrilling palpitation as the tension mounted.

  • She placed her hand over her heart and felt a strong palpitation after the surprising news.

Synonyms

shaking
vspalpitation
52 1.8

A quick repeated movement back and forth or up and down that makes things tremble

is a patterned repeating movement rather than general mechanical motion
tremor
vspalpitation
37 5.3

A shaking movement of the body or voice you cannot control

is a patterned repeating movement rather than medical instability
tremble
vspalpitation
23 2.7

A small shaking that you feel when you are very afraid or cold

is a patterned repeating movement rather than a sudden brief motion
to flutter
vspalpitation
8 4.4

To have the heart beat quickly and unevenly, often from excitement or nervousness

is a patterned repeating movement rather than irregular beats
quivering
vspalpitation
7 4.4

A slight, fast shaking that you can see or feel

is a patterned repeating movement rather than a tiny random motion
quiver
vspalpitation
6 3.9

A small shaking movement in the voice often caused by fear or excitement

is a patterned repeating movement rather than a brief emotional motion
trembling
vspalpitation
1 2.7

A small, quick shaking of the body when you feel afraid or cold

is a patterned repeating movement rather than sudden small motions
pulsation
vspalpitation
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A regular strong beat you feel in your wrist or neck when the heart beats

is a rhythmic repeating movement rather than artery-focused beats
heart flutter
vspalpitation
1 4.1

A quick nervous feeling in your chest when you are excited

is a patterned repeating movement rather than an emotional chest feeling
heart throb
vspalpitation
3.9

A strong quick beating of the heart from excitement or fear

is a patterned repeating movement rather than a single strong pulse

Antonyms

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

How Trembling

shudder
20 4.1
tremor
37 5.3
palpitation
7.4
to quiver
47 4.5

Surface Forms

palpitation singular
palpitations plural

Morphology

palpitation = palpitate (semi-transparent) = palpit + ion

Formed regularly from the verb 'palpitate' with the nominalizing suffix '-ion', but the Latinate verb 'palpitate' is somewhat specialized and may be unfamiliar to B1 learners.

Etymology

Palpitation comes from the Latin palpitare ('to flutter') and is related to the English word palpable ('can be felt'). So a palpitation can also mean a quick trembling or rhythmic flutter, like a small shake you can see or feel.