shock

[ shok ]

/ ʃɒk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shock ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a sudden and violent blow or impact; collision.

a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion: the shock of battle.

a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities: The burglary was a shock to her sense of security. The book provided a shock, nothing more.

the cause of such a disturbance: The rebuke came as a shock.

Pathology. a collapse of circulatory function, caused by severe injury, blood loss, or disease, and characterized by pallor, sweating, weak pulse, and very low blood pressure.Compare anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock.

the physiological effect produced by the passage of an electric current through the body.

shocks, Informal. shock absorbers, especially in the suspension of an automobile.

verb (used with object)

to strike or jar with intense surprise, horror, disgust, etc.: He enjoyed shocking people.

to strike against violently.

to give an electric shock to.

verb (used without object)

to undergo a shock.

Nearby words

Origin of shock

1555–65; < Middle French choc armed encounter, noun derivative of choquer to clash (in battle) < Germanic; compare Dutch schokken to shake, jolt, jerk

SYNONYMS FOR shock

8 stagger, astound, stupefy. Shock, startle, paralyze, stun suggest a sudden, sharp surprise that affects one somewhat like a blow. Shock suggests a strong blow, as it were, to one's nerves, sentiments, sense of decency, etc.: The onlookers were shocked by the accident. Startle implies the sharp surprise of sudden fright: to be startled by a loud noise. Paralyze implies such a complete shock as to render one temporarily helpless: paralyzed with fear. Stun implies such a shock as bewilders or stupefies: stunned by the realization of an unpleasant truth.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shock ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

shock·a·ble, adjectiveshock·a·bil·i·ty, nounshock·ed·ness, nounshock·like, adjective

un·shock·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·shock·a·ble, adjective

Definition for shock (2 of 3)

shock

[ shok ]

/ ʃɒk /

noun

a group of sheaves of grain placed on end and supporting one another in the field.

verb (used with object)

to make into shocks.

Origin of shock

1275–1325; Middle English; cognate with Low German schok shock of grain, group of sixty, German Schock sixty

Related formsshock·er, noun

Definition for shock (3 of 3)

shock

[ shok ]

/ ʃɒk /

noun

a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.

Also shock dog. a dog with long, shaggy hair.

adjective

shaggy, as hair.

Origin of shock

1810–20; special use of shock², the hair being compared to a shock of wheat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for shock

Citizens were watching in shock from above on the subway station.
Anger at The Cop Killer - And The Police|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But fans still feel the death was a last-minute decision made for shock value rather than to serve the story.
‘The Walking Dead’ Fans Demand: Bring Back Beth!|Melissa Leon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Shock at what the government considers dangerous and high risk could be read across social media.
The UK’s War on Porn: ‘Proof That Men Making These Rules Do Not See Women as Equals’|Aurora Snow|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She lost control of her bladder as she crouched in a corner, shaking, and unable to move her body due to the shock.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Some were silent from shock, others giddy and smiling as they boarded the U.S. Air Force C-130s.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I'm awfully sorry we had to give you such a shock for your leave-taking, but accidents will happen, now and then.
The King of Arcadia|Francis Lynde
There was a very dirty lady in his little room, and two wan girls, his daughters, with shock heads of hair.
The Personal History of David Copperfield |Charles Dickens
I am afraid there may be an explosion; and you know my nerves can't stand much of a shock.
Macleod of Dare|William Black
At the first shock came Ibn's two thousand warriors from their concealment, and the invaders fell back in astonishment.
Edmund Dulac's Picture-Book for the French Red Cross|Edmund Dulac
Lost in this mood, the voice of Emmet came to his ears with a shock, a mere succession of sounds with scarce a meaning.
The Mayor of Warwick|Herbert M. Hopkins

British Dictionary definitions for shock (1 of 3)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

verb

to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etcthe atrocities shocked us; she shocks easily

to cause a state of shock in (a person)

to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar

noun

a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact

something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotionsthe shock of her father's death made her ill

pathol a state of bodily collapse or near collapse caused by circulatory failure or sudden lowering of the blood pressure, as from severe bleeding, burns, fright, etc

pathol pain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body

Derived Formsshockable, adjectiveshockability, noun

Word Origin for shock

C16: from Old French choc, from choquier to make violent contact with, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German schoc

British Dictionary definitions for shock (2 of 3)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

noun

a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry

a pile or stack of unthreshed corn

verb

(tr) to set up (sheaves) in shocks

Word Origin for shock

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schok shock of corn, group of sixty

British Dictionary definitions for shock (3 of 3)

shock

/ (ʃɒk) /

noun

a thick bushy mass, esp of hair

adjective

rare bushy; shaggy

Word Origin for shock

C19: perhaps from shock ²

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

Word Origin and History for shock (1 of 5)

shock

n.1

1560s, "violent encounter of armed forces or a pair of warriors," a military term, from Middle French choc "violent attack," from Old French choquer "strike against," probably from Frankish, from a Proto-Germanic imitative base (cf. Middle Dutch schokken "to push, jolt," Old High German scoc "jolt, swing").

Meaning "a sudden blow" is from 1610s; meaning "a sudden and disturbing impression on the mind" is from 1705. Sense of "feeling of being (mentally) shocked" is from 1876. Medical sense is attested from 1804 (it also once meant "seizure, stroke," 1794). Shock-absorber is attested from 1906 (short form shocks attested by 1961); shock wave is from 1907. Shock troops (1917) translates German stoßtruppen and preserves the word's original military sense. Shock therapy is from 1917; shock treatment from 1938.

Word Origin and History for shock (1 of 5)

shock

n.2

"bundle of grain," early 14c., from Middle Low German schok "shock of corn," originally "group of sixty," from Proto-Germanic *skukka- (cf. Old Saxon skok, Dutch schok "sixty pieces; shock of corn;" German schock "sixty," Hocke "heap of sheaves"). In 16c.-17c. English the word sometimes meant "60-piece lot," from trade with the Dutch.

Word Origin and History for shock (2 of 5)

shock

n.3

"thick mass of hair," 1819, from earlier shock (adj.) "having thick hair" (1680s), and a noun sense of "lap dog having long, shaggy hair" (1630s), from shough (1590s), the name for this type of dog, which was said to have been brought originally from Iceland; the word is perhaps from the source of shock (n.2), or from an Old Norse variant of shag (n.). Shock-headed Peter was used in 19c. translations for German Struwwelpeter.

Word Origin and History for shock (3 of 5)

shock

v.1

"to come into violent contact, strike against suddenly and violently," 1570s, now archaic or obsolete, from shock (n.1). Meaning "to give (something) an electric shock" is from 1746; sense of "to offend, displease" is first recorded 1690s.

Word Origin and History for shock (4 of 5)

shock

v.2

"arrange (grain) in a shock," mid-15c., from shock (n.2). Related: Shocked; shocking.

Medicine definitions for shock

shock

[ shŏk ]

n.

Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent, unexpected blow.

The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.

A generally temporary massive physiological reaction to severe physical or emotional trauma, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure and depression of vital processes.

The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.

The abnormally palpable impact of an accentuated heartbeat felt by a hand on the chest wall.

v.

To induce a state of physical shock in a person.

To subject a person to an electric shock.

Science definitions for shock

shock

[ shŏk ]

An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.

A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.

Idioms and Phrases with shock

shock

see culture shock.

shock

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of shock

Definition for shock (2 of 3)

shock

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of shock

Definition for shock (3 of 3)

shock

noun

adjective

Origin of shock

Examples from the Web for shock

British Dictionary definitions for shock (1 of 3)

shock

verb

noun

Word Origin for shock

British Dictionary definitions for shock (2 of 3)

shock

noun

verb

Word Origin for shock

British Dictionary definitions for shock (3 of 3)

shock

noun

adjective

Word Origin for shock

Word Origin and History for shock (1 of 5)

shock

Word Origin and History for shock (1 of 5)

shock

Word Origin and History for shock (2 of 5)

shock

Word Origin and History for shock (3 of 5)

shock

Word Origin and History for shock (4 of 5)

shock

Medicine definitions for shock

shock

n.

v.

Science definitions for shock

shock

Idioms and Phrases with shock

shock