quaver

Universal Words verb, noun verb if sb's voice quavers, it is unsteady, usually because the person is nervous or afraid: [V] 'I'm not safe here, am I?' she asked in a quavering voice. [also Vspeech] quavery adjective: a quavery voice noun 1 (BrE) (AmE eighth note) (music) a note that lasts half as long as a CROTCHET/QUARTERNOTE 2 [usuallysing.] a shaking sound in sb's voice