aftershock

[ af-ter-shok, ahf- ]

noun

1. a small earthquake or tremor that follows a major earthquake.
2. the effect, result, or repercussion of an event; aftermath; consequence:

   The aftershock of the bankruptcy was felt throughout the financial community.

aftershock

/ ˈɑːftəˌʃɒk /

noun

1. See foreshock
   one of a series of minor tremors occurring after the main shock of an earthquake Compare foreshock

aftershock

/ ăf′tər-shŏk′ /

1. A less powerful earthquake that follows a more forceful one. Aftershocks usually originate at or near the focus of the main earthquakes they follow and can continue for days or months. They usually decrease in magnitude and frequency with time.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aftershock¹

First recorded in 1890–95; after + shock ¹

Example Sentences

So within 30 seconds of an aftershock, we know exactly where it happened, what was the magnitude and the depth and so on.

From Science News

Data collected by those volunteers have already proved invaluable to tracking the most recent quake and its aftershocks, says geologist Dominique Boisson of the University of Haiti in Port-au-Prince.

From Science News

That will be very important to assess what might be coming next, and in particular to better understand what the aftershocks are telling us.

From Science News

The minimum-wage hike is important here, but perhaps more consequential are the aftershocks the latter move would create for both parties in the future when they are relegated to the minority.

From TIme

For three months now I have not been able to recover from the aftershock from the recent events in Belarus.

From Washington Blade

Kimye Heads Back to Vogue: Brace yourselves for the aftershock.

From The Daily Beast

One aftershock was significant enough—6.6 magnitude—that some seismologists were describing it as a secondary, full-blown quake.

From The Daily Beast