QUAKE

earthquake, quake, temblor, seism

(noun) shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity

tremor, quake

(verb) shake with seismic vibrations; “The earth was quaking”

quiver, quake, palpitate

(verb) shake with fast, tremulous movements; “His nostrils palpitated”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

quake (plural quakes)

A trembling or shaking.

An earthquake, a trembling of the ground with force.

Verb

quake (third-person singular simple present quakes, present participle quaking, simple past and past participle (archaic) quoke or (obsolete) quook or quaked)

(intransitive) To tremble or shake.

(intransitive, figurative) To be in a state of fear, shock, amazement, etc, such as might cause one to tremble.

Proper noun

Quake

The 99th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.

Source: Wiktionary


Quake, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Quaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Quaking.] Etym: [AS. cwacian; cf. G. quackeln. Cf. Quagmire.]

1. To be agitated with quick, short motions continually repeated; to shake with fear, cold, etc.; to shudder; to tremble. Quaking for dread." Chaucer. She stood quaking like the partridge on which the hawk is ready to seize. Sir P. Sidney.

2. To shake, vibrate, or quiver, either from not being solid, as soft, wet land, or from violent convulsion of any kind; as, the earth quakes; the mountains quake. " Over quaking bogs." Macaulay.

Quake, v. t. Etym: [Cf. AS. cweccan to move, shake. See Quake, v. t.]

Definition: To cause to quake. [Obs.] Shak.

Quake, n.

Definition: A tremulous agitation; a quick vibratory movement; a shudder; a quivering.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


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