noun
earthquake
URTHK-wayk
noun
1
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in the Earth's crust.
"The earthquake destroyed hundreds of homes overnight."
"Scientists monitor fault lines to predict future earthquakes."
2
A sudden, major upheaval or shock, used figuratively.
"The scandal was a political earthquake that toppled the government."
How to Use Earthquake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA violent shaking of the ground, or figuratively any huge, sudden disruption.
Common pairings
a major earthquake
earthquake tremors
political earthquake
Word Forms
earthquaked past tense, earthquakes plural, earthquakes singular
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Etymology
From Middle English erthequake, joining earth and quake; it replaced the older Old English word eorþbeofung.