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View synonyms for quake

quake

[ kweyk ]

verb (used without object)

, quaked, quak·ing.
  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
“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


noun

  1. the act or an instance of quaking
  2. informal.
    short for earthquake
“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
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Other Words From

  • quaking·ly adverb
  • un·quaking adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of quake1

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian “to shake, tremble”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of quake1

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

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Example Sentences

When a quake does hit, modern early warning systems can help people brace for shaking.

Other robots use lasers to scout below the surface of Mars to find out what they are made of — and if there are quakes.

The overwhelming majority of the destruction came from the flames, not the quake.

Most of the quakes were far too small to be felt but were detectable by the sensors.

This is a quake that measures 7 or more on the Richter scale.

But with a stronger quake, we could have a serious problem.

If anything demonstrates the power of comedy to make dictators quake in their boots, it is the events of the past few days.

Almost six years after the deadly quake, little of the money pledged to rebuild the broken city has been anted up.

It is aware that the fear on which it ultimately thrives is that of politicians who quake at its supposed influence and money.

The smaller wineries still cleaning up from the quake are not yet equipped to process fruit.

I could feel a quake go through him as a tree which has just been cut throbs before it falls.

Your Court is made up of owls who fear the light, of old men who quake in the presence of the young, or who simply disregard them.

It made him quake to think that she might suddenly see out of those dear, blind eyes.

"That was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a white face.

He was, I think, the only man in Thrums who did not quake when the minister looked at him.

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