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# quaver

noun (a quaver, quavers); verb (quaver, quavers, quavered, quavering)

«quaver» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (music, UK) A note that lasts half a beat in common time — half as long as a crotchet; in the USA it is called an eighth note. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#m1)
2. (verb) When a voice quavers, it shakes because the person is afraid, nervous, old or upset. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#m2)
3. (noun) A shake or tremble in the voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#m3)

### In the lessons

In music lessons a quaver is drawn as a filled-in note with a stem and one flag (tail); two or more quavers are often joined by a beam. Two quavers equal one crotchet. In stories a quavering voice shows fear or sadness. Also «Quavers» is a UK crisp brand.

### Examples

- A quaver lasts half as long as a crotchet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x1)
- Two quavers make one beat in 4/4 time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x2)
- Her voice quavered as she said goodbye. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x3)
- «Is anyone there?» he asked with a quaver in his voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x4)
- In America a quaver is called an eighth note. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x5)
- The quavers were joined together with a beam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x6)
- The old man's voice quavered as he sang. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x7)
- A semibreve equals eight quavers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/#x8)

### Note

Countable; plural «quavers». Past form «quavered». UK names: semibreve (4 beats), minim (2), crotchet (1), quaver (1/2), semiquaver (1/4). US names: whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth note. Maths: 1 semibreve = 2 minims = 4 crotchets = 8 quavers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «quaver» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/Q/quaver/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«quaver» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/quaver.html) on Mova free.