Definitions for earthquake
ˈɜrθˌkweɪkearth·quake

Princeton's WordNet(3.73 / 11 votes)Rate this definition:

1. earthquake, quake, temblor, seism(noun)

   shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity

2. earthquake(noun)

   a disturbance that is extremely disruptive

   "selling the company caused an earthquake among the employees"

Wiktionary(3.75 / 12 votes)Rate this definition:

1. earthquake(Noun)

   A shaking of the ground, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults.

   Etymology: ertheqwake, corresponding to .

Webster Dictionary(3.60 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Earthquake(noun)

   a shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock

2. Earthquake(adj)

   like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling

Freebase(4.14 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Earthquake

   An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time. Earthquakes are measured using observations from seismometers. The moment magnitude is the most common scale on which earthquakes larger than approximately 5 are reported for the entire globe. The more numerous earthquakes smaller than magnitude 5 reported by national seismological observatories are measured mostly on the local magnitude scale, also referred to as the Richter scale. These two scales are numerically similar over their range of validity. Magnitude 3 or lower earthquakes are mostly almost imperceptible or weak and magnitude 7 and over potentially cause serious damage over larger areas, depending on their depth. The largest earthquakes in historic times have been of magnitude slightly over 9, although there is no limit to the possible magnitude. The most recent large earthquake of magnitude 9.0 or larger was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 2011, and it was the largest Japanese earthquake since records began. Intensity of shaking is measured on the modified Mercalli scale. The shallower an earthquake, the more damage to structures it causes, all else being equal.

How to pronounce earthquake?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say earthquake in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of earthquake in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of earthquake in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of earthquake in a Sentence

1. Reginald Fils-Aime:

   We still have people coming to clinics with mental health problems related to the earthquake. They talk about the earthquake, about being under the rubble.

2. The USGS:

   The magma chamber is likely imparting its own stresses on the crust around and above it, as the system slowly recharges. The stress drives fluids through cracks, producing the small quakes. The current pattern of seismicity is similar to swarms seen at Mount St. Helens in 2013 and 2014; recharge swarms in the 1990s had much higher earthquake rates and energy release.

3. Tina Neal:

   Until we see earthquake activity dying down and the ground stops moving, it's likely that this activity is going to continue.

4. Allan Chitete:

   The building blocks (sacks filled with earth or sand) have a lot of advantages, they act like cushions or shock absorbers so that in times of earthquake or floods the structure cannot develop cracks or collapse.

5. Dipendra Jha:

   There are still definite questions concerning the legality and constitutionality of the document, the earthquake has rattled the parties, and also shown how a good constitution needs to be part of the reconstruction process.

Images & Illustrations of earthquake

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