To quaver means to shake or tremble, especially in your voice when you're nervous, scared, or about to cry. When you have to give a speech in front of the whole school and your voice starts wobbling, that's quavering. A teacher might notice a student's voice quavering when they're called on unexpectedly and aren't sure of the answer.

The word captures that specific shakiness that happens when strong emotions make it hard to control your voice. Someone's voice might quaver with fear during a thunderstorm, or with sadness when sharing bad news. You might hear an older person's voice quaver slightly when they talk about something that happened long ago but still moves them deeply.

Quaver can also describe physical trembling. A person standing in the cold might quaver and shiver. A leaf might quaver in a light breeze.

In British English, a quaver is also a musical note (called an eighth note in American music), which connects to the word's sense of quick, light movement. But when you hear someone say a voice quavered, they're describing that unmistakable trembling sound that reveals what someone is really feeling inside.