Quiver vs. Shiver — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 6, 2024
Quiver means to shake or tremble with slight but rapid motion, often due to emotion or cold. Shiver means to tremble or shake, typically due to cold, fear, or excitement.
Difference Between Quiver and Shiver
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Quiver involves a light, rapid trembling, often due to strong emotions like fear or excitement. Shiver, however, is typically a reaction to cold, characterized by a full-body shake.
Quiver is often more localized, affecting a particular body part, like lips or hands. Shiver, on the other hand, tends to involve the entire body, especially when triggered by extreme temperatures.
Quiver can also describe things like leaves or animal whiskers moving slightly in the wind. Shiver typically refers to the physical shaking of people or animals.
Quiver, when used as a noun, also refers to a container for holding arrows, unrelated to the verb form. Shiver as a noun can mean a tremble or a small fragment of something.
Quiver may be voluntary or involuntary, while shivering is generally an automatic response to external stimuli like cold or fear.
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Comparison Chart
Definition (Verb)
Slight, rapid trembling
Trembling due to cold, fear, or excitement
Intensity
Generally mild or subtle
More pronounced and noticeable
Cause
Emotion or external movement
Cold, fear, or excitement
Body Part
Often specific, like lips or hands
Usually involves the whole body
Alternative Meaning
Noun: container for arrows
Noun: trembling or small fragments
Compare with Definitions
Quiver
A container used to hold arrows.
The archer slung the quiver of arrows over his shoulder.
Shiver
To undergo a strong shuddering reaction.
She shivered at the thought of the upcoming presentation.
Quiver
A trembling or shaking motion.
There was a noticeable quiver in his voice when he spoke.
Shiver
To tremble or shake due to cold, fear, or excitement.
The little boy began to shiver in the chilly air.
Quiver
To shake or tremble with slight but rapid motion.
The dog began to quiver when it heard thunder.
Shiver
A trembling or shuddering movement.
A shiver ran down his spine as he walked through the dark alley.
Quiver
To show emotions like excitement or fear through slight trembling.
Her voice quivered as she spoke of her achievements.
Shiver
A small fragment or splinter of something.
The cup fell to the floor and broke into shivers.
Quiver
To move lightly in the wind.
The leaves quivered in the gentle breeze.
Shiver
To shake or tremble, as from cold or fear.
Quiver
A quiver is a container for holding arrows, bolts, darts, or javelins. It can be carried on an archer's body, the bow, or the ground, depending on the type of shooting and the archer's personal preference.
Shiver
To quiver or vibrate, as by the force of the wind.
Quiver
To shake with a slight, rapid, tremulous movement.
Shiver
To cause (a sail) to flutter by sailing too close to the wind.
Quiver
To tremble, as from cold or strong emotion.
Shiver
To break into fragments or splinters; shatter.
Quiver
The act or motion of quivering.
Shiver
To cause to break suddenly into fragments or splinters.
Quiver
A portable case for holding arrows.
Shiver
An instance of shivering or trembling.
Quiver
A case full of arrows.
Shiver
Shivers An attack of shivering. Used with the.
Quiver
A collection or store; arsenal
A quiver of ready responses.
Shiver
A fragment or splinter.
Quiver
(weaponry) A container for arrows, crossbow bolts or darts, such as those fired from a bow, crossbow or blowgun.
Shiver
To tremble or shake, especially when cold or frightened.
They stood outside for hours, shivering in the frosty air.
Quiver
(figuratively) A ready storage location for figurative tools or weapons.
He's got lots of sales pitches in his quiver.
Shiver
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
Quiver
(obsolete) A vulva.
Shiver
To break into splinters or fragments.
Quiver
(obsolete) The collective noun for cobras.
Shiver
The act of shivering.
A shiver went up my spine.
Quiver
(mathematics) A multidigraph.
Shiver
(medicine) A bodily response to early hypothermia.Wp
Quiver
(archaic) Nimble, active.
Shiver
A fragment or splinter, especially of glass or stone.
Quiver
(intransitive) To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion.
Shiver
A thin slice; a shive.
Quiver
Nimble; active.
Shiver
(geology) A variety of blue slate.
Quiver
To shake or move with slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver.
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind.
And left the limbs still quivering on the ground.
Shiver
(nautical) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
Quiver
The act or state of quivering; a tremor.
Shiver
A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
Quiver
A case or sheath for arrows to be carried on the person.
Beside him hung his bowAnd quiver, with three-bolted thunder stored.
Shiver
A spindle.
Quiver
An almost pleasurable sensation of fright;
A frisson of surprise shot through him
Shiver
Collective noun for a group of sharks
Quiver
A shaky motion;
The shaking of his fingers as he lit his pipe
Shiver
One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; - generally used in the plural.
Quiver
Case for holding arrows
Shiver
A thin slice; a shive.
Of your soft bread, not but a shiver.
Quiver
The act of vibrating
Shiver
A variety of blue slate.
Quiver
Shake with fast, tremulous movements;
His nostrils palpitated
Shiver
A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
Quiver
Move back and forth very rapidly;
The candle flickered
Shiver
A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
Quiver
Move with or as if with a regular alternating motion;
The city pulsated with music and excitement
Shiver
A spindle.
Shiver
The act of shivering or trembling.
Shiver
To break into many small pieces, or splinters; to shatter; to dash to pieces by a blow; as, to shiver a glass goblet.
All the groundWith shivered armor strown.
Shiver
To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered.
There shiver shafts upon shields thick.
The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . would instantly shiver into millions of atoms.
Shiver
To tremble; to vibrate; to quiver; to shake, as from cold or fear.
Prometheus is laidOn icy Caucasus to shiver.
The man that shivered on the brink of sin,Thus steeled and hardened, ventures boldly in.
Shiver
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
Shiver
Reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement
Shiver
An almost pleasurable sensation of fright;
A frisson of surprise shot through him
Shiver
Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
Shiver
Shake, as from cold;
The children are shivering--turn on the heat!
Common Curiosities
Do quiver and shiver mean the same thing?
No, quiver is a light tremble often due to emotion, while shiver is a stronger, more noticeable shake due to cold or fear.
Is shiver a voluntary action?
No, it's usually an automatic response to external stimuli.
Do people always notice when they quiver?
Not always, as it's often subtle compared to shivering.
Is there a physical difference in how quivering and shivering look?
Yes, quivering is lighter and less intense, whereas shivering involves more noticeable shaking.
Can animals shiver?
Yes, animals shiver due to cold, fear, or other stimuli.
Can leaves shiver in the wind?
No, leaves typically quiver with light movements in the wind.
Is shiver a formal or informal term?
It's commonly used and isn't overly formal or informal.
Is shivering always due to cold?
No, it can also be caused by fear or excitement.
What is the secondary meaning of quiver?
As a noun, it refers to a container for holding arrows.
Can both quiver and shiver describe emotions?
Yes, both can reflect emotional responses, such as fear or excitement.
Is a quiver of arrows part of the archery gear?
Yes, it's an essential accessory for carrying arrows.
Is it common to shiver due to excitement?
It can happen, though more often, people shiver due to cold or fear.
Can quiver be used to describe an object?
Yes, it can describe objects moving slightly, like leaves in the wind.
Does shivering only occur in cold environments?
Not exclusively; fear, illness, or emotions can also trigger it.
Does shivering help warm the body?
Yes, shivering generates heat through muscle activity in response to cold.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
