quake
kwayk
Quake (noun) means Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground. Example: “The quake knocked out power across the city.”
noun
1
Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.
"The quake knocked out power across the city."
verb
1
To shake or tremble, often from fear.
"Her hands quaked as she opened the exam results."
"The ground quaked beneath their feet during the tremor."
How to use quake
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo shake or tremble — literally (the ground) or figuratively (from fear).
Common pairings
quake with fear
the earth quaked
a violent quake
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Word forms
- Plural
- quakes
- Third person singular
- quakes
- Past tense
- quaked, quoke, quook
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ knocked out power across the city.
Etymology
From Old English cwacian, "to tremble, shake, chatter," of imitative origin describing a shaking motion.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for quake
See all rhymes for quake →Frequently asked questions
What does “quake” mean?
The word “quake” means short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground. In plain terms, to shake or tremble — literally (the ground) or figuratively (from fear).
How do you pronounce “quake”?
“Quake” is pronounced kwayk (/kweɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “quake” in a sentence?
Here is “quake” used in a sentence: “The quake knocked out power across the city.”
What part of speech is “quake”?
Depending on how it is used, “quake” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quake” come from?
The word “quake” comes from Old English. From Old English cwacian, "to tremble, shake, chatter," of imitative origin describing a shaking motion.
Is “quake” a common word?
“Quake” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “quake” have?
“Quake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.
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