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foreshock

American  
[fawr-shok, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌʃɒk, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

Geology.
  1. a relatively small earthquake that precedes a greater one by a few days or weeks and originates at or near the focus of the larger earthquake.


foreshock British  
/ ˈfɔːˌʃɒk /

noun

  1. a relatively small earthquake heralding the arrival of a much larger one. Some large earthquakes are preceded by a series of foreshocks Compare aftershock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of foreshock

First recorded in 1900–05; fore- + shock 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, the 2011 earthquake was preceded by a 7.2 magnitude foreshock, they note - one which was largely ignored.

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2024

As with all earthquakes, there is 1 in 20 chance that Tuesday’s temblor was a foreshock to a larger earthquake.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024

It’s not clear that a quake is a foreshock until a larger quake happens.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2023

Edgar provided the foreshock that inning by blasting a three-run homer in the before Luis Sojo brought home Tino Martinez on a sacrifice fly.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2023

The downfall of the Fox host Bill O'Reilly in April 2017 turned out to have been just a foreshock of the changes to come.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2018

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