thrill

 
Pronunciation: /θrɪl/

noun

  • 1a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure: the thrill of jumping out of an aeroplane
  • an experience that produces a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure: to ride a winner is always a thrill
  • a wave or nervous tremor of emotion or sensation: a thrill of excitement ran through her
  • 2 Medicine a vibratory movement or resonance heard through a stethoscope.
  • archaic a throb or pulsation.

verb

  • 1 [with object] cause (someone) to have a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure: his kiss thrilled and excited her they were thrilled with the results I’m thrilled to bits
  • [no object] experience such feeling: thrill to the magic of the world 's greatest guitarist
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial] (of an emotion or sensation) pass with a nervous tremor: the shock of alarm thrilled through her
  • [no object] literary quiver or throb.

Phrases

the thrill of the chase

pleasure and excitement derived from seeking something desired, especially a sexual partner: I was so lost in the thrill of the chase that I didn’t realize we were entirely incompatible

thrills and spills

excitement and exhilaration, especially when derived from dangerous sports or entertainments: experience the thrills and spills of water sports

Origin:

Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'pierce or penetrate'): alteration of dialect thirl 'pierce'