[ad. L. vibrātiōn-, vibrātio, n. of action f. vibrāre to VIBRATE. So F. vibration, It. vibrazione, Sp. vibracion, Pg. vibração.]
† 1. (See quots. and cf. VIBRATE v. 6.) Obs.–0
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Vibration, a brandishing, shaking, or wagging, as men do drawn swords, when they threaten others.
2. The action on the part of a pendulum or similarly suspended body of moving or swinging to and fro; oscillation.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 191. The most probable way for the effecting of this, is that which was first suggested by Doctor Christopher Wren, namely, by Vibration of a Pendulum.
1700. Moxon, Math. Dict., Vibration, the Motion of a Pendulum in a Clock, which moves in the long sort a Secant in Time backward and forward.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Vibration, is the Swing or Motion of a Pendulum; or of a Weight hung by a String on a Pin.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XIV. 119/2. Whence the lengths of pendulums are as the forces and the squares of the times of vibration.
1822. Webster, Imison’s Sci. & Art, I. 80. The vibration of bodies when suspended must have been long observed.
1830. Kater & Lardner, Mech., x. 129. When the alternation [of motion] is constant and regular, it is called oscillation or vibration, as in pendulums and balance-wheels.
1877. Encycl. Brit., VI. 14/2. The time of vibration depends entirely on the length of the pendulum.
b. A single instance of this.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 442. The Pendulum was this Day adjusted, there having been but 58 vibrations in a Minute, the other Day.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., 191. Let this Ball be suspended by this String, being extended to such a length, that the space of every Vibration may be equal to a second Minute of time.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. s.v., The Proportions of the Vibrations of Pendulums.
1797. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XIV. 118/1. The point or axis of suspension of a pendulum is that point about which it performs its vibrations.
1803. J. Imison, Sci. & Art, I. 124. Each swing that it [i.e., a pendulum] makes, is called a vibration, or oscillation.
1812–6. Playfair, Nat. Phil. (1819), I. 129. The time of one vibration of the pendulum in seconds. Ibid. The times of the vibrations of pendulums are as the square roots of their lengths.
1895. R. H. Pinkerton, Theoretical Mechanics (ed. 5), 103. The acceleration of gravity is proportional to the square of the number of vibrations of the same pendulum in a given time.
3. Physics. The rapid alternating or reciprocating motion to and fro, or up and down, produced in the particles of an elastic body by the disturbance of equilibrium; the motion in the particles of a sonorous body by which sound is produced.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 527. When the string of a lute or viol is stricken, the vibration, that is, the reciprocal motion of that string in the same strait line, causeth like vibration in another string which hath like tension.
a. 1721. Prior, Dial. betw. Locke & Montaigne, Wks. 1907, II. 243. The vibration of the Air and its Undulation.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 168. An æther,… rendered luminous, by a vibration occasioned by the planetary motion.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., iii. The office of the drum of the ear is to spread out an extended surface, capable of receiving the impressions of sound, and of being put by them into a state of vibration.
1869. Tyndall, in Fortn. Rev., 1 Feb., 247. The plane of vibration of the polarized light turns suddenly through an angle of 90°.
1875. Encycl. Brit., I. 100. Its amplitude of vibration or distance between its extreme positions.
attrib. 1801. Encycl. Brit., Suppl. II. 751/1. Vibration Figures, are certain figures, formed by sand or very dry saw-dust, on a vibrating surface, which is connected with the sensation of sound in our organs of hearing.
b. A single movement of this kind.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 8 Aug. A certain number of vibrations proper to make any tone.
1731. S. Hales, Stat. Ess., I. 143. Which perspiration is effected by the brisk rarifying vibrations of warmth.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. xx. But still their trembling ears retain’d The deep vibrations of his witching song.
1808. Med. Jrnl., XIX. 406. The height of the longitudinal vibrations is … inversely as the length of the sonorous body.
1834. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sci., xviii. 153. When the particles of elastic bodies are suddenly disturbed by an impulse, they return to their natural position by a series of isochronous vibrations.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), II. xi. 244. Each vibration asserts its individual rights; and all are at last shaken forth into the air by a second sound-board.
fig. 1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Shaks., Wks. (Bohn), I. 358. Ben Jonson … had no suspicion of the elastic fame whose first vibrations he was attempting.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, xxxviii. The words arose within him, and stirred innumerable vibrations of memory. Ibid. (1866), F. Holt (1868), 8. Vibrations that make human agonies are often a mere whisper in the roar of hurrying existence.
c. spec. A supposed movement of this kind in the nerves, regarded as the means by which external impressions are conveyed to the mind. Obs. exc. Hist.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Madness, Confused Vibrations of the Nerves, and a remarkable Energy of Imagination.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. 11. External Objects impressed upon the Senses occasion, first in the Nerves,… and then in the Brain, Vibrations of the small … medullary Particles.
1753. Hogarth, Anal. Beauty, xii. 95. Those more or less pleasing vibrations of the optic nerves, which serve to inform the mind.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), I. x. 120. The vibrations of the brain are [not] themselves the perceptions.
1801. Belsham, Philosophy of Mind, § 4. 38. The theory of vibrations suggested by Sir Isaac Newton, adopted and amplified by Dr. Hartley, ans supported by Doctor Priestley, assumes that the nerves are continuations of the medullary substance of the brain; that impressions made upon the organs of sense produce VIBRATIONS in the minute particles of the nerves.
1829. Carlyle, Misc. (1857), II. 104. Hartley’s vibrations and vibratiuncles.
1857. [see VIBRATIUNCLE].
4. In wider sense: Movement to and fro or up and down, esp. when quick and more or less continuous; a quivering, swaying or tremulous motion of any kind.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Vibration, a shaking, striking or quavering.
1725. N. Robinson, The. Physick, 83. An increas’d Motion of the Blood, arising from a Vibration of the Vessels.
1822. Shelley, Lines Bay of Lerici, 16. Feeling ever—oh! too much!—The soft vibration of her touch.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxix. (1856), 251. Our brig had just mounted the floe, and as we stood on the ice watching her vibration, it seemed so certain that she must come over on her beam-ends.
1870. Dickens, E. Drood, x. There was a vibration in the old lady’s cap.
1901. D. B. Hall & Ld. A. Osborne, Sunshine & Surf, ii. 17. None of the vibration and smells of the modern steamer.
attrib. 1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., IV. 678. Massage, vibration-massage, electrolysis and the constant current are said to give excellent results in suitable cases.
b. An instance of this; a quiver or tremor.
1655. Vaughan, Silex Scint., Midnight (1858), 54. What Emanations, Quick Vibrations, And bright Stirs are there!
1676. Glanvill, Ess., III. 27. He will perceive the Quicksilver to descend from the Tube into the subjacent Vessell, till it comes to 29 Digits or thereabouts; there, after some Vibrations, it ordinarily rests.
1811. Shelley, St. Irvyne, Sister Rosa, xviii. In long vibrations shuddered the ground.
1849. Lyell, 2nd Visit U.S., II. 298. The vibrations and noise [are] much less than in other boats on the same high pressure principle.
1869. Phillips, Vesuv., ix. 254. Accompanied by tremors or vibrations in the rocks.
5. The action or fact of vacillating or varying in respect of conduct or opinion; an instance of this; a changing or swinging round.
1785. Jefferson, Corr. (1829), I. 300. The late proceedings seem to be producing a decisive vibration in our favor.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1904), II. 301. This was a fair exhibition of that vibration between pious resolutions and indolence.
1848. Gallenga, Italy (1851), 171. It is of little importance … to talk about the perpetual vibrations of Charles Albert’s weak mind at this period.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iv. 170. There was the same restlessness and fickleness…, the same vibration between anarchy and abject submission.
1882. Bancroft, Hist. Const. U.S.A., II. 354. In Virginia there had been a great vibration of opinion.
b. Variation in extent, etc.
1860. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, vi. § 329. The breadth of the calms of Cancer is also variable…. The extreme vibration of this zone is between the parallels of 17° and 38° north.
6. Electr. (See quot.)
1842. Francis, Dict. Arts, Vibration, in electricity, is known as a quantity of the fluid intermediate between a spark and a shock.
