Meaning & Definition of Earthquake in English
English⟶
Earthquake
A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
Pronunciation:
/ˈɜːrθ.kweɪk/Part of Speech:
nounPlural:
earthquakesDetailed Definitions
Definition: A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, often causing damage.
Example Sentence: The earthquake destroyed many buildings in the city.
Definition: A series of vibrations or shocks felt in a particular area.
Example Sentence: After the earthquake, there were several aftershocks.
Definition: A disturbance in the Earth's crust, resulting from geological activity.
Example Sentence: Seismologists study the patterns of earthquakes to predict future ones.
Etymology
Origin: From earth + quake, where 'quake' means to shake.
Synonyms
tremorquakeshakingshockseismic event
Common Phrases and Expressions
- aftershock: A smaller earthquake that follows the main shock.
- earthquake zone: A region that is prone to earthquakes.
- to cause an earthquake: To create a significant disturbance that leads to seismic activity.
Translations
- Spanish: terremoto
- French: tremblement de terre
- German: Erdbeben
- Russian: землетрясение
Related Words
- seismology: The study of earthquakes and the movement of waves through the Earth.
- fault line: A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock.
- tremor: A small or minor earthquake.
Slang Meanings of earthquake
Meaning: The big shake.
Example Sentence: That was one intense big shake!
Meaning: Shake-up
Example Sentence: It was a total shake-up when the quake hit.