throb

From Middle English throbben; possibly of imitative origin.

• enPR: thrŏb
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /θɹɒb/

    • Audio (Southern England):

      (file)

  • (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /θɹɑb/
  • (General Australian) IPA^(key): /θɹɔb/
• Rhymes: -ɒb

throb (third-person singular simple present throbs, present participle throbbing, simple past and past participle throbbed)

1. (intransitive) To pound or beat rapidly or violently.

   Her heart began to throb faster as the moment approached.

2. (intransitive) To vibrate or pulsate with a steady rhythm. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?)
3. (intransitive, of a body part) To pulse (often painfully) in time with the circulation of blood.

   I have a throbbing headache.

4. (figurative, with "with") To exhibit an attitude, trait, or affect powerfully and profoundly.

   The bass in the song made the entire room throb with energy.

   • 1977 April 23, Arlene Silva, “Suzanne Fox's Silent Stories”, in Gay Community News, page 10:

     Having been married and divorced, Suzanne throbs with attitudes of strength, liberation and equality.

• heart-throbbing
• throbbingly

throb (plural throbs)

1. A beating, vibration or palpitation.

   He could feel a dull throb in his head from the tension.

   • 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:

     My bosom was now bare, and rising in the warmest throbs, presented to his sight and feeling the firm hard swell of a pair of young breasts, such as may be imagin'd of a girl not sixteen, fresh out of the country

• throbber
• throbby
• heartthrob
• wind throb

• Borth, broth