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palpitate

/ˌpælpəˈteɪt/

Other forms: palpitating; palpitated; palpitates

When you watch scary movies, do you ever feel your heart palpitate? This means it beats quickly.

To correctly pronounce palpitate, say: "PAL-pih-tate." Hearts aren't the only thing that can palpitate; your whole body might palpitate, or shiver. You can also palpitate something, such as what a medical professional does to a patient's heart to make it beat, potentially saving his or her life. Palpitate comes from the Latin word palpare, "to stroke."

Definitions of palpitate
  1. verb
    beat rapidly
    “His heart palpitated
    synonyms: flutter
    see moresee less
    type of:
    beat, pound, thump
    move rhythmically
  2. verb
    shake with fast, tremulous movements
    “His nostrils palpitated
    synonyms: quake, quiver
    see moresee less
    type of:
    tremble
    move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
  3. verb
    cause to throb or beat rapidly
    “Her violent feelings palpitated the young woman's heart”
    Synonyms:
    flutter
    beat rapidly
    see moresee less
    type of:
    agitate, shake
    move or cause to move back and forth
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘palpitate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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