Shake, v. t. [imp. Shook p. p. Shaken (Shook, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Shaking.]
1. To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate.
As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. --Rev. vi. 13.
Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels
That shake heaven's basis. --Milton.
2. Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation. --Atterbury.
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced. --Milton.
3. Mus. To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music.
4. To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; -- generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree.
Shake off the golden slumber of repose. --Shak.
'Tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age. --Shak.
I could scarcely shake him out of my company. --Bunyan.
To shake a cask Naut., to knock a cask to pieces and pack the staves.
To shake hands, to perform the customary act of civility by clasping and moving hands, as an expression of greeting, farewell, good will, agreement, etc.
To shake out a reef Naut., to untile the reef points and spread more canvas.
To shake the bells. See under Bell.
To shake the sails Naut., to luff up in the wind, causing the sails to shiver. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Shak·en a.
1. Caused to shake; agitated; as, a shaken bough.
2. Cracked or checked; split. See Shake, n., 2.
Nor is the wood shaken or twisted. --Barroe.
3. Impaired, as by a shock.
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shake
n 1: building material used as siding or roofing [syn: shingle]
2: frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or
ice cream [syn: milkshake, milk shake]
3: a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone
above it [syn: trill]
4: grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an
introduction or to agree on a contract) [syn: handshake,
handshaking, handclasp]
5: reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement [syn: tremble,
shiver]
6: causing to move repeatedly from side to side [syn: wag, waggle]
v 1: move or cause to move back and forth; "The chemist shook the
flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking" [syn: agitate]
2: move with or as if with a tremor; "his hands shook" [syn: didder]
3: shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively; "The old engine
was juddering" [syn: judder]
4: move back and forth or sideways; "the ship was rocking";
"the tall building swayed"; "She rocked back and forth on
her feet" [syn: rock, sway]
5: undermine or cause to waver; "my faith has been shaken";
"The bad news shook her hopes"
6: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; "These stories
shook the community"; "the civil war shook the country"
[syn: stimulate, shake up, excite, stir]
7: get rid of; "I couldn't shake the car that was following me"
[syn: shake off, throw off, escape from]
8: bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking; "He
was shaken from his dreams"; "shake the salt out of the
salt shaker"
9: shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or
cognitive state; "shake one's head"; "She shook her finger
at the naughty students"; "The old enemies shook hands";
"Don't shake your fist at me!"
[also: shook, shaken]
shaken
adj : disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock;
"retrieved his named from her jolted memory"; "the
accident left her badly shaken" [syn: jolted]