Fibrillates

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To display fast and irregular contractions in muscle fibers that signify chaotic electrical activity in an organ, especially the heart, while also indicating a lack of coordinated muscle function
2. To experience quick, uncoordinated twitching or quivering movements in muscle fibers due to irregular electrical impulses
3. When muscle fibers contract in a rapid, disorganized fashion causing trembling or shaking without coordinated control

Etymology: "Fibrillates" is the third-person singular form of "fibrillate," which means to twitch in rapid, involuntary spasms. The verb is built on "fibrilla," the Latin diminutive of "fibra," meaning fibre or thread. The Latin root gives the sense of something made of tiny threads, and a fibril is a very small fibre, so to fibrillate is, literally, to contract in a way that makes the tissue seem to quiver with tiny threads of movement.

Synonyms: twitches, quivers, shudders, flutters, vibrates

Antonyms: stabilizes, calms, settles, smooths, stops