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. Akhenaten:

   As the whirlwind in its fury teareth up trees, and deformeth the face of nature, or as an earthquake in its convulsions overturneth whole cities; so the rage of an angry man throweth mischief around him.

2. Shagaf Khan:

   If it had been completely open, it would have been easy for people to get out, but nobody was prepared for this. We were prepared for an emergency like a fire or an earthquake, and people would still have time to get out. This is something totally different. You dont put this in your emergency plan.

3. Daniel Ives:

   The Apple brand speaks for itself and it will have an earthquake-like impact on the industry, given the gold standard brand, given Apple's breadth and awareness, it's more important what Apple is doing strategically than moving the needle financially.

4. Jake Greenberg:

   It's not something you forget, everyone thought (yesterday's earthquake) was nothing, you didn't feel anything, but still there was a moment that made me think of what could've happened.

5. Steve Watkins:

   What happened was that there was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, we found ourselves -- I was at 19,000 feet. We lived. There were several other fatalities. I exchanged compliments with another climber who doesn't remember the nature of that compliment being the same as I quoted. I said sorry, I took it down.

Images & Illustrations of earthquake

Popularity rank by frequency of use