Quake
/kweɪk/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo shake or tremble, especially from fear, instability, or impact.
/kweɪk/
To shake or tremble violently.
The ground began to quake.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really scared and your body shakes a lot. That's like quaking! Like when a dog shakes after getting wet, or when you're so nervous your knees shake.
👶 For kids: To shake a lot, like when the ground shakes during an earthquake.
More Examples
Her voice quaked with fear.
The old bridge quaked under the weight of the truck.
How It's Used
"The building quaked during the earthquake."
"His voice quaked with emotion."
A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, typically caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
/kweɪk/
A sudden shaking of the earth.
The devastating quake caused widespread damage.
💡 Simply: That shaking of the ground we call an earthquake! It's when the earth moves and everything wobbles.
👶 For kids: When the ground shakes really hard.
More Examples
The region experienced aftershocks following the initial quake.
Scientists are studying the cause of the quake.
How It's Used
"The city was devastated by the quake."
"Reports of the quake reached the news outlets."
Idioms & expressions
a heart that quakes
A person or an entity with a quivering heart can be described as someone with a quaking heart, indicating vulnerability, fear, or anticipation.
"Her heart that quakes with anticipation as the judges reveal their scores."
From Middle English quaken, from Old English cwacian (to tremble, shake). Related to Dutch kwaken (to croak) and German quäken (to squeak).
Historically, 'quake' has been used both as a verb and a noun to describe shaking or trembling, predating the more specific term 'earthquake.'
Memory tip
Imagine the ground QUAKING during an EARTHquake.