earthquake
UK: ˈɜːθkweɪk | US: ˈɜːrθkweɪk
n. a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, often causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action
earthquake = earth<ground> + quake<shake>
- earth: From Old English eorþe, meaning "ground, soil, or the planet itself."
- quake: From Old English cwacian, meaning "to shake or tremble."
Etymology Origin:
The word "earthquake" is a transparent compound in English, combining "earth" (the physical ground) and "quake" (a shaking motion). It directly describes the phenomenon of the ground shaking. The term has been used since Middle English (14th century) and reflects a straightforward, descriptive approach to naming natural phenomena.
The earthquake destroyed several buildings in the city.
Scientists are working to predict earthquakes more accurately.
People rushed outdoors when they felt the earthquake.
The region is prone to earthquakes due to its location on a fault line.
After the earthquake, rescue teams searched for survivors in the rubble.