shock

¹

[ shok ]

noun

1. a sudden and violent blow or impact; collision.
2. a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion:

   the shock of battle.

3. 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.

4. the cause of such a disturbance:

   The rebuke came as a shock.

5. 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.
6. the physiological effect produced by the passage of an electric current through the body.
7. shocks, Informal. shock absorbers, especially in the suspension of an automobile.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or jar with intense surprise, horror, disgust, etc.:

   He enjoyed shocking people.

   Synonyms: stupefy, astound, stagger

2. to strike against violently.
3. to give an electric shock to.

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo a shock.

shock

²

[ shok ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

1. to make into shocks.

shock

³

[ shok ]

noun

1. a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.
2. Also shock dog. a dog with long, shaggy hair.

adjective

1. shaggy, as hair.

shock

¹

/ ʃɒk /

noun

1. a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry
2. a pile or stack of unthreshed corn

verb

1. tr to set up (sheaves) in shocks

shock

²

/ ʃɒk /

noun

1. a thick bushy mass, esp of hair

adjective

1. rare.
   bushy; shaggy

shock

³

/ ʃɒk /

verb

1. to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etc

   the atrocities shocked us

   she shocks easily

2. to cause a state of shock in (a person)
3. to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar

noun

1. a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact
2. something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotions

   the shock of her father's death made her ill

3. 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
4. pathol pain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body

shock

/ shŏk /

1. 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.
2. A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.

Derived Forms

• ˈshockable, adjective
• ˌshockaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• shocka·ble adjective
• shocka·bili·ty noun
• shocked·ness noun
• shocklike adjective
• unshock·a·bili·ty noun
• un·shocka·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shock¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Middle French choc “armed encounter,” noun derivative of choquer “to clash (in battle),” from Germanic (probably Frankish); compare Dutch schokken “to shake, jolt, jerk”

Origin of shock²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English shok, shocke, shok(k)e; cognate with Middle Low German, Low German scok, schok, all meaning “shock of grain, group of sixty,” German Schock “sixty”

Origin of shock³

First recorded in 1815–20; special use of shock ² (the hair being compared to a shock of wheat)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shock¹

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

Origin of shock²

C19: perhaps from shock ²

Origin of shock³

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

Idioms and Phrases

see culture shock .

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

As of 2022, there were an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and mass deportations would break up mixed-status families and could send shock waves through parts of the economy.

From Los Angeles Times

He said during a news conference in September that the names contained in the suits would “shock.”

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they are running to reporters, professing shock and outrage at the cast of dangerous clowns he is tapping to serve in his cabinet.

From Salon

Donald Trump is moving very quickly with his “shock and awe” plans to rule as an autocrat who views multiracial pluralistic democracy and its system of checks and balance as an impediment to his power.

From Salon

"It was hard for weeks in the hospital, just watching, shocking," McGuigan said tearfully.

From BBC

Related Words

• agitate
• anger
• astound
• awe
• disgust
• dismay
• displease
• disturb
• flabbergast
• horrify
• insult
• jar
• jolt
• offend
• outrage
• overwhelm
• paralyze
• rock
• shake
• shake up