English Explanatory Dictionary

earthquake

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A shaking of the ground, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults.
  2. Such a quake specifically occurring on the planet Earth, as opposed to other celestial bodies.
  3. A sudden and intense upheaval; a severely disruptive event.
verb
  1. To undergo an earthquake.

Pronunciation

/ˈɜːθkweɪk/ /ˈɝθkweɪk/ En-us-earthquake.ogg

Word forms

earthquake earthquakes earthquaking earthquaked

Etymology

From Middle English erthequake, corresponding to earth + quake. Displaced Middle English eorð byfung (“earthquake”) from Old English eorþbeofung (literally “earth shaking”).

Synonyms

earthdin quake seism temblor terremote tremblor tremor

Related words

moonquake seaquake starquake aftershock earthquake engineering fault line Richter scale seismic seismograph seismologist seismology tremor tsunami

Derived words

antiearthquake birthquake cuntquake earthquake baroque earthquake bomb earthquake dam earthquake drill earthquake engineering earthquakelike earthquake-prone earthquakeproof earthquake protector earthquake storm earthquaky footquake hurriquake megaearthquake microearthquake mirthquake non-earthquake paleoearthquake postearthquake slow earthquake
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