quake

[ kweyk ]
/ kweɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR quake ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), quaked, quak·ing.

(of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like: He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.
(of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability: The earth suddenly began to quake.

noun

an earthquake.
a trembling or tremulous agitation.

Origin of quake

before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian to shake, tremble

SYNONYMS FOR quake

1 shudder. See shiver1.
2 quiver.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR quake ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM quake

quak·ing·ly, adverb un·quak·ing, adjective

Words nearby quake

quail clock, quail dove, quail-brush, quaint, quair, quake, quake in one's boots, quakeproof, quaker, quaker gun, quaker meeting

Words related to quaking

quail, totter, pulsate, quiver, throb, convulse, twitter, move, jar, cower, shrink, shudder, fluctuate, shiver, waver, rock, tremor, tremble, wobble, jitter

Example sentences from the Web for quaking

British Dictionary definitions for quaking (1 of 2)

quaking
/ (ˈkweɪkɪŋ) /

adjective

unstable or unsafe to walk on, as a bog or quicksand a quaking bog; quaking sands

British Dictionary definitions for quaking (2 of 2)

quake
/ (kweɪk) /

verb (intr)

to shake or tremble with or as with fear
to convulse or quiver, as from instability

noun

the act or an instance of quaking
informal short for earthquake

Word Origin for quake

Old English cwacian; related to Old English cweccan to shake, Old Irish bocaim, German wackeln