different between dither vs trill

English

Etymology

Variant of didder, from Middle English didderen (“to tremble”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *titr?n?, whence also derived Old High German zittar?n (German zittern) and Old Norse titra (Faroese titra, Icelandic titra).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d?ð?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?ð?/
• Rhymes: -?ð?(?)

Verb

dither (third-person singular simple present dithers, present participle dithering, simple past and past participle dithered) (intransitive)

1. To tremble, shake, or shiver with cold.
   • 1913, D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, chapter 8

     Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.

2. To be uncertain or unable to make a decision about doing something.
   • 2012, The Economist, Sept. 22nd issue, Indian Reform: At Last

     The dithering Mr Singh of recent times may worry that his reform proposals are already too bold. The reforming Mr Singh of yore would see them as just the start.

3. To do something nervously.
4. (computer graphics) To render an approximation of (an image, etc.) by using dot patterns to approximate (the features of) colors not in the system palette.
5. To intentionally add noise to a signal to randomize errors.

Derived terms

• ditherer
• dithering
• ditheringly
• dithery

Related terms

• dodder

Translations

Noun

dither (countable and uncountable, plural dithers)

1. The state of being undecided.

1. A form of noise which is intentionally applied to randomize errors which occur in the processing of both digital audio and digital video data.
2. (computer graphics) The use of dot patterns to approximate colors not available in the palette.

Derived terms

• in a dither

Translations

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “dither”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Anagrams

• drieth, rideth, thirde

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English trillen, from Italian trillo, trillare. Compare Norwegian trille, Swedish trilla.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t??l/, [t??????l]
• Rhymes: -?l

Noun

trill (plural trills)

1. (music) A rapid alternation between an indicated note and the one above it, in musical notation usually indicated with the letters tr written above the staff.
2. (phonetics) A type of consonantal sound that is produced by vibrations of the tongue against the place of articulation: for example, Spanish ?rr?, /r/.
3. A tremulous high-pitched vocal sound produced by cats.

Derived terms

• trilly

Translations

Verb

trill (third-person singular simple present trills, present participle trilling, simple past and past participle trilled)

1. (intransitive) To create a trill sound; to utter trills or a trill; to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver.
   • 1692, John Dryden, Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero, a Tragedy

     To judge of trilling notes and tripping feet.

2. (transitive) To impart the quality of a trill to; to utter as, or with, a trill.
   • 1730, James Thomson, Seasons - Summer

     The sober-suited songstress trills her lay.

Synonyms

• roll

Derived terms

• triller

Translations

Further reading

• trill (music) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• trill consonant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

Perhaps identical to Etymology 3, but compare the same sense of drill, and German trillen, drillen.

Verb

trill (third-person singular simple present trills, present participle trilling, simple past and past participle trilled)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To trickle.
   • 1737, Richard Glover, Leonidas Book {{{1}}}

     Whisper'd sounds / Of waters, trilling from the riven stone.

Etymology 3

Probably related to Old English þweran (“to twirl, stir”). Compare twirl, thirl, and Swedish trilla, Norwegian trille, etc.

Verb

trill (third-person singular simple present trills, present participle trilling, simple past and past participle trilled)

1. (intransitive, obsolete) To twirl.

Related terms

• tirl

Etymology 4

Perhaps a blend of true +? real.

Adjective

trill (comparative triller, superlative trillest)

1. (slang, hip-hop culture) true, respected

Albanian

Noun

trill ? (indefinite plural trillime, definite singular trilli, definite plural trillimet)

1. whim, tantrum, bizarre fantasy

Derived terms

• trilloj

Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

trill

1. imperative of trille