Webster's English Dictionary

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shake

1. shake \'sha-k\ \'shu.k\ \'sha--k*n\ vb or shook;  or shak.en or shak.ing 
   [ME shaken, fr. OE sceacan; akin to ON shaka to shake, Skt Xkhajati he 
   agitates 1: to move irregularly to and fro : QUIVER  2: to vibrate esp. as 
   the result of a blow or shock  3: to tremble as a result of physical or 
   emotional disturbance  4: to experience a state of instability : TOTTER  5: 
   to clasp hands  6: TRILL  1: to brandish, wave, or flourish often in a 
   threatening manner  2: to cause to move in a quick jerky manner  3: to 
   cause to quake, quiver, or tremble  4: to free oneself from {~ a habit ~ 
   off a cold}  5: to cause to waver : WEAKEN {~ one's faith}  6: to bring to 
   a specified condition by repeated quick jerky movements  7: to dislodge or 
   eject by quick jerky movements of the support or contain er 8: to clasp 
   (hands) in greeting or farewell or as a sign of goodwill or ag reement 9: 
   to stir the feelings of : UPSET {shook her up}  10: TRILL up and down or to 
   and fro with some violence. SHAKE often carries a further implication of a 
   particular purpose; AGITATE suggests a violent and somewhat prolonged 
   tossing or stirring; ROCK suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting 
   from violent impact or upheaval; CONVULSE suggests a violent pulling or 
   wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm 1: DANCE  2: to hurry up  - shake a 
   leg  SYN syn SHAKE, AGITATE, ROCK, CONVULSE mean to move 
2. shake n 1: an act of shaking : as  1a: an act of shaking hands  1b: an 
   act of shaking oneself  2a: a blow or shock that upsets the equilibrium or 
   disturbs the balance of  something 2b: EARTHQUAKE  pl  3a: a condition of 
   trembling (as from chill)  3b: MALARIA  4: something produced by shaking : 
   as  4a: a fissure separating annual rings of growth in timber  4b: a 
   fissure in strata  4c: MILK SHAKE  5: a wavering, quivering, or alternating 
   motion caused by a blow or shock  6: TRILL  7: a very brief period of time  
   pl  8: one of importance or ability {no great ~s}  9: a shingle split from 
   a piece of log usu. three or four feet long  10: DEAL {a fair ~}