Meaning of shake in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ʃeɪk/

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  1. Verb

    shake

    Etymology

    Old English sc(e)acan (verb), of Germanic origin

    Definitions

    1. move or cause to move back and forth

    Examples

    • « The chemist shook the flask vigorously »
    • « My hands were shaking »
  2. 2. move with or as if with a tremor

    Examples

    • « his hands shook »
  3. 3. shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively

    Examples

    • « The old engine was juddering »
  4. 4. move back and forth or sideways

    Examples

    • « the ship was rocking »
    • « the tall building swayed »
    • « She rocked back and forth on her feet »
  5. 5. undermine or cause to waver

    Examples

    • « my faith has been shaken »
    • « The bad news shook her hopes »
  6. 6. stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of

    Examples

    • « These stories shook the community »
    • « the civil war shook the country »
  7. 7. get rid of

    Examples

    • « I couldn't shake the car that was following me »
  8. 8. bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking

    Examples

    • « He was shaken from his dreams »
    • « shake the salt out of the salt shaker »
  9. 9. shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state

    Examples

    • « shake one's head »
    • « She shook her finger at the naughty students »
    • « The old enemies shook hands »
    • « Don't shake your fist at me! »

  10. Noun

    shake

    Definitions

    1. building material used as siding or roofing
  11. 2. frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or ice cream
  12. 3. a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
  13. 4. grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)
  14. 5. reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement
  15. 6. causing to move repeatedly from side to side