thrill Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the swift release of a store of affective force
    rush; boot; charge; bang; flush; kick.
    • they got a great bang out of it
    • what a boot!
    • he got a quick rush from injecting heroin
    • he does it for kicks
  2. noun an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
    frisson; quiver; shudder; shiver; tingle; chill.
    • a frisson of surprise shot through him
  3. noun something that causes you to experience a sudden intense feeling or sensation
    • the thrills of space travel
  4. verb cause to be thrilled by some perceptual input
    • The men were thrilled by a loud whistle blow
  5. verb feel sudden intense sensation or emotion
    tickle; vibrate.
    • he was thrilled by the speed and the roar of the engine
  6. verb tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
    shudder; throb; shiver.
  7. verb fill with sublime emotion
    tickle pink; inebriate; exalt; exhilarate; beatify.
    • The children were thrilled at the prospect of going to the movies
    • He was inebriated by his phenomenal success

WordNet

Thrill noun
Etymology
See Trill.
Definitions
  1. A warbling; a trill.
Thrill noun
Etymology
AS. yrel an aperture. See Thrill, v. t.
Definitions
  1. A breathing place or hole; a nostril, as of a bird.
Thrill transitive verb
Etymology
OE. thrillen, irlen, urlen, to pierce; all probably fr. AS. yrlian, yrelian, Fr. yrel pierced; as a noun, a hole, fr. urh through; probably akin to D. drillen to drill, to bore. *53. See Through, and cf. Drill to bore, Nostril, Trill to trickle.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Thrilled ; present participle & verbal noun Thrilling
Definitions
  1. To perforate by a pointed instrument; to bore; to transfix; to drill. Obs.
    He pierced through his chafed chest With thrilling point of deadly iron brand. Spenser.
  2. Hence, to affect, as if by something that pierces or pricks; to cause to have a shivering, throbbing, tingling, or exquisite sensation; to pierce; to penetrate.
    To bathe in flery floods, or to reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice. Shak.
    Vivid and picturesque turns of expression which thrill the eader with sudden delight. M. Arnold.
    The cruel word her tender heart so thrilled, That sudden cold did run through every vein. Spenser.
  3. To hurl; to throw; to cast. Obs.
    I'll thrill my javelin. Heywood.
Thrill intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pierce, as something sharp; to penetrate; especially, to cause a tingling sensation that runs through the system with a slight shivering; as, a sharp sound thrills through the whole frame.
    I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins. Shak.
  2. To feel a sharp, shivering, tingling, or exquisite sensation, running through the body.
    To seek sweet safety out In vaults and prisons, and to thrill and shake. Shak.
Thrill noun
Definitions
  1. A drill. See 3d Drill, 1.
  2. A sensation as of being thrilled; a tremulous excitement; as, a thrill of horror; a thrill of joy. Burns.

Webster 1913