quake

American  

[kweyk] / kweɪk /

verb (used without object)

quaked, quaking

1. (of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like.

   He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.

   Synonyms:

   shudder

2. (of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability.

   The earth suddenly began to quake.

   Synonyms:

   quiver

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noun

1. an earthquake.

2. a trembling or tremulous agitation.

quake British  

/ kweɪk /

verb

1. to shake or tremble with or as with fear

2. to convulse or quiver, as from instability

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noun

1. the act or an instance of quaking

2. informal short for earthquake

Related Words

See shiver ¹.

Other Word Forms

• quakingly adverb
• unquaking adjective

Etymology

Origin of quake

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian “to shake, tremble”

Example Sentences

A magnitude-7.1 quake in southwestern China, killing scores of people, is also felt in neighboring India, Nepal and Bhutan.

From The Wall Street Journal

Disaster has dropped by on many occasions in the form of quakes, fires and floods, and disaster will call again.

From Los Angeles Times

All three quakes were centered two to three miles from Santa Rosa, according to the USGS.

From Los Angeles Times

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeated those warnings Thursday, citing earthquake risks after a quake Monday in the sea off Japan’s northeastern coast.

From The Wall Street Journal

Officials said the possibility of a larger quake occurring is about one in 100.

From BBC