dither

present singular third person dithers · participle present dithering · participle past dithered · past dithered

1. intransitiveliterallyTo tremble, shake, or shiver.

   Presently he came running out of the scullery, with the soapy water dripping from him, dithering with cold.

   1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “chapter 8”, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC

2. figurativelyintransitiveTo be uncertain or unable to make a decision; to vacillate, hesitate, or delay.

   2012, The Economist, Sept. 22nd issue, "Indian Reform: At Last" The dithering Mr Singh of recent times may worry that his reform proposals are already too bold. The reforming Mr Singh of yore would see them as just the start.

3. intransitiveTo do something nervously.
4. To apply an algorithm to digital data to minimize the effects of quantization:
   1. intransitivebusinessTo use dot patterns in an image or graphic to simulate colors or shades not in the system palette.

      Look at how pixelly this wall texture is. You almost don't even notice the dithering when driving by quick. Up close though, it's real chunky.

      2023, Preston "Pretzel", 4:34 from the start, in Familiar and Unfamiliar Areas in Lego Island

   2. intransitivebusinessTo intentionally add noise to a signal to remove artifacts caused by digitization.

plural dithers

1. countableintransitiveuncountableTrembling, shaking, or shivering.
2. countableintransitiveuncountableA state of nervous excitement.

   Everyone was in a dither; either in it or about to get in it or just climbing out of it. Naturally, the Madam was not in a dither. Dither was a foreign concept to her.

   2002, Thomas P. Glynn, A Child's Christmas In Chicago, page 59

3. countableintransitiveuncountableThe state of being undecided; indecision; vacillation.
4. Any algorithm applied to digital data to minimize the effects of quantization:
   1. countableintransitiveuncountablebusinessA form of noise intentionally added to remove artifacts caused by digitization.
   2. countableintransitiveuncountablebusinessThe use of dot patterns in an image or graphic to approximate colors not available in the system palette.