earthquake
noun
earth·quake
ˈərth-ˌkwāk 
1
: a shaking or trembling of the earth that is volcanic or tectonic in origin
2
Examples of earthquake in a Sentence
a building destroyed by earthquake
the San Andreas Fault is notorious for its earthquakes
Recent Examples on the Web
In the new analysis, which involved measurements of properties of earthquake waves traveling deep underground, the researchers saw evidence for something cold and dense stuck in that mantle blob gap.
—
Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024
Here's Why Go Caving Though other attractions may be shuttered, Wonder World Cave has inspired tourists to San Marcos since the late 1800s, when this dry cave, formed by an earthquake, was discovered.
—Cynthia Drake, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024
The earthquakes were monitored by the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) and ranged in magnitudes from 0.9 to 2.0.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 8 Oct. 2024
In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements.
—Molly Taft, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for earthquake 
Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2024
Here's Why Go Caving Though other attractions may be shuttered, Wonder World Cave has inspired tourists to San Marcos since the late 1800s, when this dry cave, formed by an earthquake, was discovered.
—Cynthia Drake, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024
The earthquakes were monitored by the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) and ranged in magnitudes from 0.9 to 2.0.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 8 Oct. 2024
In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements.
—Molly Taft, WIRED, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for earthquake
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'earthquake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Earthquake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earthquake. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earthquake
noun
earth·quake
ˈərth-ˌkwāk
: a shaking or trembling of a portion of the earth
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