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tremble

aspen (tree)

noun trahm-bluh Rare
Animals & Nature Plants

Origin: From Old French 'tremble', related to the tree's constantly quivering leaves.

Usage Note

Tremble denotes the European aspen (Populus tremula), whose leaves flutter in the slightest breeze — cognate with the verb trembler (to tremble). The idiom for shaking with cold or fear is trembler comme une feuille ('to shake like a leaf'). Do not confuse the noun with tremble, the first-person singular of trembler, which shares the spelling.

Examples

"Les feuilles du tremble frémissent au vent."

Natural Translation

The aspen leaves quiver in the wind.

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