Meaning & Definition of word "Shake"

Shake

/ʃeɪk/

noun:

  • 1. a quick movement back and forth or up and down
    • Example: With a firm shake, he finished his drink.
  • 2. a brief period of trembling or quaking
    • Example: There was a shake in his voice as he spoke.
  • 3. an act of shaking hands as a greeting or agreement
    • Example: They exchanged a shake at the start of the conference.

verb:

  • 1. to move or sway back and forth or up and down with quick movements
    • Example: She shook the bottle to mix the ingredients.
  • 2. to cause (something) to tremble or vibrate
    • Example: The earthquake shook the entire building.
  • 3. to grasp and move (something) quickly to and fro
    • Example: He offered his hand for a shake after the meeting.
  • 4. to remove or lose (something) by moving quickly
    • Example: I tried to shake the feeling of anxiety before my speech.

Etymology

Middle English: from Old English 'sceacan', of Germanic origin.

Common Phrases and Expressions

shake it off:

to disregard or ignore something negative

shake hands:

to greet someone with a handshake

shake a leg:

to hurry up or move quickly

Related Words

jolt:

a sudden shock or movement

tremor:

an involuntary quaking movement

wobble:

to move unsteadily from side to side

Slang Meanings of shake

Meaning: to leave quickly

Example Sentence: I gotta shake; my ride is here.

Meaning: to party or dance energetically

Example Sentence: We went out last night to shake it on the dance floor.