foreshock

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fore·shock

 (fôr′shŏk′)
n.
A minor tremor of the earth that precedes a larger earthquake originating at approximately the same location.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

foreshock

(ˈfɔːˌʃɒk)
n
(Geological Science) a relatively small earthquake heralding the arrival of a much larger one. Some large earthquakes are preceded by a series of foreshocks. Compare aftershock
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fore•shock

(ˈfɔrˌʃɒk, ˈfoʊr-)

n.
a relatively small earthquake that precedes a greater one by a few days or weeks and originates at or near the focus of the larger earthquake.
[1900–05]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.foreshock - a tremor preceding an earthquake
earth tremor, microseism, tremor - a small earthquake
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
Usually, an earthquake consists of a foreshock, earthquake, and aftershocks.
California: Small Fault, Big Quake!
At 7.1 it was an aftershock, 11 times stronger than the 6.4 foreshock that struck the day before.
Their 7.1, our 7.2
The July 4, 2019 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Searles Valley, California, proved to be a foreshock for a larger 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck near Ridgecrest, California on July 5, 2019.
Palomar reports exposure in areas impacted by Ridgecrest earthquake
When an aftershock is bigger than the main quake, the first quake is renamed as a foreshock, Jones explained.
California at Risk of 'Even Bigger Earthquake' After Serious Shocks
A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook Southern California on Friday, causing some damage to buildings, with 11 times more force than an apparent foreshock that rattled the same area a day earlier.
Southern California struck by even more powerful quake, second in two days
However, that quake would now be considered a foreshock to the Friday night temblor.
A 7.1 Friday night follows Thursday's 6.4
4 is now a foreshock, and that 7.1 aftershock has become the main shock.
Strong earthquake rocks Southern California
4-magnitude quake "foreshock" the previous day, according to the United States Geological Survey.
S. California hit by 7.1-magnitude quake, strongest in two decades
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