quake

[kweyk]

verb (used without object)

quaked, quaking 

1. (of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like.

   He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.

   Synonyms: shudder

2. (of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability.

   The earth suddenly began to quake.

   Synonyms: quiver

noun

1. an earthquake.

2. a trembling or tremulous agitation.

quake

/ kweɪk /

verb

1. to shake or tremble with or as with fear

2. to convulse or quiver, as from instability

noun

1. the act or an instance of quaking

2. informal,  short for earthquake

Other Word Forms

• quakingly adverb
• unquaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian “to shake, tremble”

Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

Old English cwacian; related to Old English cweccan to shake, Old Irish bocaim, German wackeln

Synonym Study

See shiver ¹.

Example Sentences

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Afghanistan's remote south-eastern region on Thursday night, the third quake in six days, as the death toll from the first continued to rise.

From BBC

The areas worst hit by the quake were Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, but it was felt as far away as Kabul and in neighbouring Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

From BBC

An inconsolable woman said she had lost family members in the quake, while an old man appeared dazed and lost, unable to speak to anyone.

From BBC

The initial quake was followed by a number of large aftershocks, which are thought to have caused further deaths.

From BBC

“Activities associated with the withdrawal of steam for producing electric power cause or induce small quakes to occur in the field,” the agency says.

From Los Angeles Times