Dictionary Definition
shudder
Noun
1 an almost pleasurable sensation of fright; "a
frisson of surprise shot through him" [syn: frisson, shiver, chill, quiver, thrill, tingle]
2 an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or
fear) [syn: tremor]
Verb
1 shake, as from cold; "The children are
shivering--turn on the heat!" [syn: shiver]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -ʌdə(r)
Synonyms
Translations
A shivering tremor
A moment of almost pleasurable fear; a frisson
Synonyms
Translations
To shake nervously, as if from fear
To vibrate jerkily
See also
Extensive Definition
Shivering is a bodily function in response to
early hypothermia in
warm-blooded
animals. When the core body
temperature drops, the shivering reflex is triggered. Muscle groups around
the vital
organs begin to shake in small movements in an attempt to
create warmth by expending energy. Shivering can also be a
response to a fever as a
person may feel cold, though their core temperature is already
elevated.
Located in the dorsomedial portion of the
hypothalamus near
the wall of the third
ventricle is an area called the primary motor center for
shivering. This area is normally inhibited by signals from the heat
center in the anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area but is excited by
cold signals from the skin
and spinal cord.
Therefore, this center becomes activated when the body temperature
falls even a fraction of a degree below a critical temperature
level.
Increased muscular activity results in wasted
heat - here the heat is utilized for warmth.
Shivering can also appear after surgery. This is
known as post-surgical
shivering.
See also
External links
shudder in German: Zittern
shudder in French: Frissonnement
shudder in Italian: Brivido
shudder in Hebrew: צמרמורת
shudder in Dutch: Koude rilling
shudder in Polish: Dreszcze
shudder in Portuguese: Arrepio
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
bang, be
cold, bob, bobble, boot, bounce, bump, charge, chatter, chill, convulse, convulsion, didder, disquiet, disquietude, dither, dithers, falter, fidgetiness, fidgets, flush, flutter, freeze, freeze to death, grimace, grow cold, gyrate, have a chill, have an
ague, have goose pimples, heaving, horripilate, hustle, inquietude, jactitate, jar, jerk, jig, jigget, jiggle, jog, joggle, jollies, jolt, jostle, jounce, jump, kick, lift, lose heat, palpitation, panting, paroxysm, perish with cold,
pitapat, pitter-patter,
quake, quaking, quaver, quavering, quiver, quivering, rattle, restlessness, rictus, rush, rush of emotion, sensation, shake, shakes, shaking, shimmy, shiver, shivers, shock, spasm, surge of emotion, thrill, throb, throbbing, tic, tingle, tingling, titillation, tremble, trembling, tremor, tremor of excitement,
trepidation,
trepidity, twitch, twitter, unrest, vibrate, vibration, wobble