earthquake - English dictionary definition

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Earthquake 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.
Earthquake Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling.
earthquake shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity