earthquake
|earth-quake|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈɜrθˌkweɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˈɜːθˌkweɪk/
ground shaking
Etymology
Etymology Information
'earthquake' originates from Middle English, specifically the words 'erthe' meaning 'earth' and 'quaken' meaning 'to shake'.
Historical Evolution
'erthequaken' transformed into the modern English word 'earthquake'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'a shaking of the earth', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.
The earthquake caused significant damage to the city.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35