Library / English Dictionary

SHIMMY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: shimmied   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lively dancing (usually to ragtime music) with much shaking of the shoulders and hips

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("shimmy" is a kind of...):

social dancing (dancing as part of a social occasion)

Derivation:

shimmy (dance a shimmy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A woman's sleeveless undergarment

Synonyms:

chemise; shift; shimmy; slip; teddy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("shimmy" is a kind of...):

undergarment; unmentionable (a garment worn under other garments)

Meronyms (parts of "shimmy"):

shoulder strap; strap (a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An abnormal wobble in a motor vehicle (especially in the front wheels)

Example:

he could feel the shimmy in the steering wheel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("shimmy" is a kind of...):

wobble (an unsteady rocking motion)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dance a shimmy

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "shimmy" is one way to...):

dance; trip the light fantastic; trip the light fantastic toe (move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance)

Domain category:

dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue shimmy

Derivation:

shimmy (lively dancing (usually to ragtime music) with much shaking of the shoulders and hips)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Tremble or shake

Example:

His voice wobbled with restrained emotion

Synonyms:

shimmy; wobble

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "shimmy" is one way to...):

vibrate (shake, quiver, or throb; move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

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