/ θrɒb; NAmE θrɑːb/ verb , noun
■ verb ( -bb- ) [ v ] throb (with sth)
1.
( of a part of the body ) to feel a series of regular painful movements :
His head throbbed painfully.
My feet were throbbing after the long walk home.
➡ note at hurt
2.
to beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm
SYN pulsate :
The ship's engines throbbed quietly.
a throbbing drumbeat
The blood was throbbing in my veins.
( figurative )
His voice was throbbing with emotion.
■ noun
(also throb·bing ) [ sing. ] a strong regular beat; a feeling of pain that you experience as a series of strong beats :
the throb of the machines
My headache faded to a dull throbbing.
—see also heart-throb
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : probably imitative.