Shobdo Logo
ODE→quake

quake

Flag: gbEnglishOxford Dictionary of English
quake /kweɪk /
▸ verb [no object] (especially of the earth) shake or tremble:
the rumbling vibrations set the whole valley quaking.
▪ (of a person) shake or shudder with fear:
he was a large man with a flaming temper and I was quaking as I ran to his office.
▸ noun informal an earthquake:
a big quake east of the Rocky Mountains.
▪ [usually in singular] an act of shaking or quaking:
a little quake of delayed shock nudged her.
– PHRASES
quake in one's boots (also quake in one's shoes)
tremble with fear or apprehension:
this whole situation must have some people in Hollywood quaking in their boots.
– DERIVATIVES
quaky adjective
( quakier, quakiest)
– ORIGIN Old English cwacian.