different between purr vs vibrate

English

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??(?)/
• Rhymes: -??(?)
• Homophone: per

Verb

purr (third-person singular simple present purrs, present participle purring, simple past and past participle purred)

1. (intransitive) Of a cat, to make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented.
2. (transitive) To say (something) in a throaty, seductive manner.
   • 2008, C. E. Osborne, Black Gold Death in the Sun (page 12)

     "This is Cindy," she purred again, flashing a smile of perfect white teeth surrounded by full red lips.

3. (intransitive) To make a vibrating throaty sound, as from pleasure.

   He purred like a kitten when she massaged his neck.

4. (intransitive, of an engine) To make a low and consistent rumbling sound.
   • 2001, E. C. Craver, Last Reunion (page 159)

     Beverly passed the city limits sign with the Porsche's motor purring contentedly after its two hundred and fifty-mile romp.

Derived terms

• purrer

Translations

Noun

purr (plural purrs)

1. The vibrating sound made by a cat in its throat when contented.
   • 1918, Sarath Kumar Ghosh, The wonders of the jungle - Volume 2 (page 113)

     Instead, the tiger looked around, and gave a purr, and then a growl. What did that mean? The man could not tell. Then the tiger just flung upon the man some of the sand from the side of the hollow.

2. A throaty, seductive sound of pleasure made by a person.
   • 2006, Brenda Williamson, Wolverton Blood (page 53)

     The trill of her purr echoed inside his mouth when he kissed her again. Clutching at his shirt, her fingers traveled the muscles in his back.

3. The low consistent rumble made by an engine at slow speed
   • 1997, Susan Wood, A Fly in Amber (page 191)

     I sat still in the car and listened to the soft purr of the engine and my beating heart. Then slowly, and as silently as possible, I drove the car back to camp.

Derived terms

• purrlike

Translations

Interjection

purr

1. Throat vibrating sound made by a cat.

Translations

See also

• meow

Anagrams

• RURP

English

Etymology

From Latin vibr?tus, perfect passive participle of vibr? (“agitate, set in tremulous motion”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /va??b?e?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?va?.b?e?t/
• Rhymes: -e?t

Verb

vibrate (third-person singular simple present vibrates, present participle vibrating, simple past and past participle vibrated)

1. (intransitive) To shake with small, rapid movements to and fro.
2. (intransitive) To resonate.

   Her mind was vibrating with excitement.

3. (transitive) To brandish; to swing to and fro.

   to vibrate a sword or a staff

4. (transitive) To mark or measure by moving to and fro.

   a pendulum vibrating seconds

5. (transitive) To affect with vibratory motion; to set in vibration.
   • 1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech

     Breath vocalized, i.e., vibrated or undulated, may […] impress a swift, tremulous motion.
6. (transitive, slang, dated) To please or impress someone.
   • 1949, Ladies' Home Journal (volume 66, page 115)

     And if he wants to give you high praise, he'll answer, "That vibrates me"; "That has a large charge"; or "That's oogley."

   • 1961, Congressional Record

     […] standing side by side under a Grecian column, tapping their feet in unison and saying such things as "Hot-diggety,” “Razz-ma-tazz," “That vibrates me," and other expressions of praise current in their youth.

7. (intransitive, music) To use vibrato.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

vibrate (uncountable)

1. The setting, on a portable electronic device, that causes it to vibrate rather than sound any (or most) needed alarms.

   Please put your cellphones on vibrate for the duration of the meeting.

Translations

Further reading

• vibrate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vibrate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• vrbaite

Italian

Verb

vibrate

1. second-person plural present indicative of vibrare
2. second-person plural imperative of vibrare
3. feminine plural of vibrato

Anagrams

• brevità, trabevi

Latin

Verb

vibr?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of vibr?