释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024tot•ter /ˈtɑtɚ/USA pronunciation v. [no object]- to walk or go with clumsy, hesitant, or unsteady steps:After the blow to the head he tottered and fell.
- to sway or rock, as if about to fall:During the earthquake the building tottered, then crashed to the ground.
n. [countable] - the act of tottering;
an unsteady way of walking. tot•ter•er, n. [countable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024tot•ter (tot′ər),USA pronunciation v.i. - to walk or go with faltering steps, as if from extreme weakness.
- to sway or rock on the base or ground, as if about to fall:The tower seemed to totter in the wind. The government was tottering.
- to shake or tremble:a load that tottered.
n. - the act of tottering;
an unsteady movement or gait.
- ?
- Middle English toteren to swing 1150–1200
tot ′ter•er, n. - 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See stagger.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged waver.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged oscillate, quiver.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: totter /ˈtɒtə/ vb (intransitive)- to walk or move in an unsteady manner, as from old age
- to sway or shake as if about to fall
- to be failing, unstable, or precarious
n - the act or an instance of tottering
Etymology: 12th Century: perhaps from Old English tealtrian to waver, and Middle Dutch touteren to staggerˈtotterer n ˈtottering adj ˈtotteringly adv ˈtottery adj |