earthquake

earth·quake

noun \ˈərth-ˌkwāk\

Definition of EARTHQUAKE

1

: a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin

2

: upheaval 2

Examples of EARTHQUAKE

1. a building destroyed by earthquake
2. <the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes>

First Known Use of EARTHQUAKE

14th century

Related to EARTHQUAKE

Synonyms: quake, shake, temblor, tremor

Related Words: aftershock, foreshock, shock; cataclysm, convulsion, upheaval; microearthquake, microseism, seaquake

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with EARTHQUAKE

air brake, awake, backache, beefcake, beefsteak, betake, blacksnake, bull snake, canebrake, caretake, cheesecake, cheesesteak, clambake, club steak, corncrake, cube steak, cupcake, daybreak, disc brake, drum brake, earache, fair shake, fast break, firebreak, firedrake, fish cake, flank steak, forsake, friedcake, fruitcake, green snake, grubstake, hand brake, handshake, headache, heartache, heartbreak, hoecake, hotcake, housebreak, intake, jailbreak, keepsake, king snake, lapstrake, mandrake, milk snake, mistake, moonquake, muckrake, namesake, newsbreak, oatcake, oil cake, opaque, outbreak, outtake, Pan-Cake, pancake, partake, pound cake, pump fake, rat snake, remake, retake, rewake, rock brake, seaquake, sea snake, seedcake, sheldrake, shortcake, snowflake, sponge cake, Swiss steak, tea cake, toothache, unmake, uptake, wheat cake, windbreak, wind shake, youthquake