quake
pronunciation
How to pronounce quake in British English:
UK [kweɪk]
How to pronounce quake in American English:
US [kweɪk]
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- Noun:
- shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
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- Verb:
- shake with fast, tremulous movements
- shake with seismic vibrations
Word Origin
- quake (v.)
- Old English cwacian "quake, tremble, chatter (of teeth)," related to cweccan "to shake, swing, move, vibrate," of unknown origin with no certain cognates outside English. Perhaps somehow imitative. In reference to earth tremors, probably by c. 1200. Related: Quaked; quaking.
- quake (n.)
- early 14c., "a trembling in fear," from quake (v.). Rare except in combinations. Now usually as a shortening of earthquake, in which use it is attested from 1640s. Old English had the verbal noun cwacung "shaking, trembling."
Example
- 1. The dominican republic suffered a serious quake in 1946 .
- 2. The quake shook buildings in the japanese capital and caused several fires .
- 3. Korumburra resident james carter said the quake shook books off the shelves in his family home .
- 4. The quake has also done environmental damage .
- 5. The quake also left 5m people homeless .