noun. A certain pulsation or trembling effect given to a sustained note, in either vocal or instrumental music, for the sake of expression.

noun. Specifically— An effect produced upon the obsolete clavichord by balancing the finger on the key so as slightly to rub the tangent against the string and thus prolong the tone with a gentle pulsation.

noun. An effect, common in violin-playing, produced by rocking the finger of the left hand in stopping a string so as to produce a slight waver or tremolo in the pitch.

noun. An effect in singing produced by a slight unsteadiness in the breath so as to cause a waver both in pitch and in resonance. See tremolo and vibrato.

noun. A tremolo effect, such as that produced on the piano by vibratory repetition of a note with sustained use of the pedal.