earthquake

American  

[urth-kweyk] / ˈɜrθˌkweɪk /

noun

1. a series of vibrations induced in the earth's crust by the abrupt rupture and rebound of rocks in which elastic strain has been slowly accumulating.

   Synonyms:

   temblor, seism, shock, tremor, quake

2. something that is severely disruptive; upheaval.

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earthquake British  

/ ˈɜːθˌkweɪk /

noun

1. a sudden release of energy in the earth's crust or upper mantle, usually caused by movement along a fault plane or by volcanic activity and resulting in the generation of seismic waves which can be destructive

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earthquake Scientific  

/ ûrth′kwāk′ /

1. A sudden movement of the Earth's lithosphere (its crust and upper mantle). Earthquakes are caused by the release of built-up stress within rocks along geologic faults or by the movement of magma in volcanic areas. They are usually followed by aftershocks.

2. See Note at fault

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earthquake Cultural  

1. A tremor of the surface of the Earth, sometimes severe and devastating, which results from shock waves generated by the movement of rock masses deep within the Earth, particularly near boundaries of tectonic plates. (See fault, Richter scale, and seismology.)

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Closer Look

Fractures in Earth's crust, or lithosphere, where sections of rock have slipped past each other are called faults.Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of accumulated strain along these faults, releasing energy in the form of low-frequency sound waves called seismic waves. Although thousands of earthquakes occur each year, most are too weak to be detected except by seismographs, instruments that detect and record vibrations and movements in the Earth. The point where the earthquake originates is the seismic focus, and directly above it on Earth's surface is the earthquake's epicenter. Three kinds of waves accompany earthquakes. Primary (P) waves have a push-pull type of vibration. Secondary (S) waves have a side-to-side type of vibration. Both P and S waves travel deep into Earth, reflecting off the surfaces of its various layers. S waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core. Surface (L) waves—named after the nineteenth-century British mathematician A.E.H. Love—travel along Earth's surface, causing most of the damage of an earthquake. The total amount of energy released by an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. Each increase by 1 corresponds to a tenfold increase in strength. Earthquakes above 7 on the Richter scale are considered severe. The famous earthquake that flattened San Francisco in 1906 had a magnitude of 7.8.

Discover More

Earthquakes are particularly likely where such plates are sliding past each other, as in the San Andreas Fault.

Earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted, although the likelihood of a region's suffering an earthquake can be estimated.

Other Word Forms

• preearthquake adjective

Etymology

Origin of earthquake

1300–50; Middle English erthequake ( earth, quake ), replacing Old English eorthdyne ( din ¹ )

Compare meaning

How does earthquake compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• earthquake vs. aftershock
• temblor vs. earthquake

Example Sentences

A series of earthquakes strike central Myanmar, rocking the war-torn country’s second-largest city and shaking skyscrapers in neighboring Thailand.

From The Wall Street Journal

Why was the nation’s most populous county, built on land vulnerable to intense fire, flooding and earthquakes, not more prepared?

From Los Angeles Times

The powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, has given researchers an uncommon chance to observe how some of the planet's most dangerous fault systems behave, including faults similar to California's San Andreas.

From Science Daily

Lewin blocked funding requests for programs like tuberculosis treatment in Tajikistan and emergency earthquake response in Myanmar, records show.

From Salon

Three small earthquakes shook the Bay Area near Santa Rosa on Sunday afternoon, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• shock
• temblor
• upheaval