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

Supershear quakes send intense shaking farther from the epicenter and strike twice, according to Elbanna -- a sharp initial blow from the shock front followed by the trailing waves.

Read more on Science Daily

The destruction came less than two weeks after a 6.9-magnitude quake struck the central Philippine island of Cebu, killing 75 people and wrecking about 72,000 houses.

Read more on Barron's

The 6.9-magnitude quake struck just before 10 p.m. local time Tuesday in the waters off Bogo City on the island of Cebu, according to the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In Mati city, close to the offshore epicentre of both quakes, the latest one knocked out power.

Read more on Barron's

The latest tremor comes just over a week after a 6.9 magnitude quake hit Philippine's central Cebu province, killing 74 people and injuring hundreds.

Read more on BBC