shaky

shaky
UK [ˈʃeɪkɪ] / US adjective
Word forms "shaky":
adjective shaky comparative shakier superlative shakiest
1)
a) feeling weak or unable to walk or move without shaking, for example because you are very ill
b) not firm and likely to fall

Be careful – the table is a bit shaky.

2) lacking the knowledge or skill to do something well

My French is a bit shaky.

3) likely to fail or be unsuccessful

They invested in a shaky business venture.


Derived words:
shakily
adverb
shakiness
noun uncountable

English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • shaky — shak‧y [ˈʆeɪki] adjective not definite or firm, and likely to fail: • The market began a shaky recovery. • After a shaky start at the beginning of the decade, the economy began to grow fast. * * * shaky UK US /ˈʃeɪki/ adjective ► not in good… …   Financial and business terms

  • Shaky — Shak y, a. [Compar. {Shakier}; superl. {Shakiest}.] 1. Shaking or trembling; as, a shaky spot in a marsh; a shaky hand. Thackeray. [1913 Webster] 2. Full of shakes or cracks; cracked; as, shaky timber. Gwilt. [1913 Webster] 3. Easily shaken;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shaky — Studioalbum von Shakin’ Stevens Veröffentlichung 1981 Label Epic Records Format …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • shaky — [adj1] trembling all aquiver*, aquake, aquiver, ashake, faltering, fluctuant, infirm, insecure, jellylike, jerry built*, jittery, nervous, not set, precarious, quaking, quivery, rattletrap, rickety, rocky, rootless, shaking, tottering, tottery,… …   New thesaurus

  • shaky — index diffident, insecure, precarious Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • shaky — (adj.) 1834 of structures; 1840, of handwriting; 1841 of persons and credit; from SHAKE (Cf. shake) + Y (Cf. y) (2). General sense of uncertain is from 1834. Earliest of trees or logs, split, having fissures (1808). Related: Shakily; shakiness …   Etymology dictionary

  • shaky — ► ADJECTIVE (shakier, shakiest) 1) shaking or trembling. 2) unstable. 3) not safe or reliable. DERIVATIVES shakily adverb shakiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • shaky — [shā′kē] adj. shakier, shakiest 1. not firm, substantial, or secure; weak, unsound, or unsteady, as a structure, belief, etc. 2. a) trembling or tremulous b) nervous or jittery 3. not dependable or reliable; questionable shakily adv …   English World dictionary

  • shaky — [[t]ʃe͟ɪki[/t]] shakier, shakiest 1) ADJ GRADED If you describe a situation as shaky, you mean that it is weak or unstable, and seems unlikely to last long or be successful. A shaky ceasefire is holding after three days of fighting between rival… …   English dictionary

  • shaky — adjective 1 weak and unsteady because of old age, illness or shock: shaky voice | be shaky on your feet (=not able to walk very well): Grandad was a little shaky on his feet after the accident. 2 not thorough, complete, or certain: My knowledge… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • shaky — adjective (shakier; est) Date: 1703 1. characterized by shakes < shaky timber > 2. a. lacking stability ; precarious < a shaky economy > < performed well after a shaky start > b …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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