earthquake

earth·quake  (ûrthkwk)

n.

A sudden movement of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity. Also called seism, temblor.

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earthquake

Noun

a series of vibrations at the earth's surface caused by movement of the earth's crust

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earthquake  (ûrthkwk) A sudden movement of the Earth's lithosphere (its crust and upper mantle). Earthquakes are caused by the release of built-up stress within rocks along geologic faults or by the movement of magma in volcanic areas. They are usually followed by aftershocks. See Note at fault. A Closer Look Fractures in Earth's crust, or lithosphere, where sections of rock have slipped past each other are called faults. Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of accumulated strain along these faults, releasing energy in the form of low-frequency sound waves called seismic waves. Although thousands of earthquakes occur each year, most are too weak to be detected except by seismographs, instruments that detect and record vibrations and movements in the Earth. The point where the earthquake originates is the seismic focus, and directly above it on Earth's surface is the earthquake's epicenter. Three kinds of waves accompany earthquakes. Primary (P) waves have a push-pull type of vibration. Secondary (S) waves have a side-to-side type of vibration. Both P and S waves travel deep into Earth, reflecting off the surfaces of its various layers. S waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core. Surface (L) wavesnamed after the nineteenth-century British mathematician A.E.H. Lovetravel along Earth's surface, causing most of the damage of an earthquake. The total amount of energy released by an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale. Each increase by 1 corresponds to a tenfold increase in strength. Earthquakes above 7 on the Richter scale are considered severe. The famous earthquake that flattened San Francisco in 1906 had a magnitude of 7.8.

earthquake Primary and secondary waves radiate from an earthquake's focus and move through the Earth's interior. As they encounter a boundary, like that between the lower mantle and the liquid outer core, they are reflected and refracted. Secondary waves cannot travel through liquids. Surface waves radiate out from an earthquake's focus and travel only along the Earth's surface.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	earthquake - shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity quake, seism, temblor seismic disturbance, shock - an instance of agitation of the earth's crust; "the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch" earth tremor, microseism, tremor - a small earthquake seaquake, submarine earthquake - an earthquake at the sea bed geological phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the structure or composition of the earth
	2.	earthquake - a disturbance that is extremely disruptive; "selling the company caused an earthquake among the employees" commotion, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, hurly burly, kerfuffle, to-do, disruption, disturbance, flutter - a disorderly outburst or tumult; "they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused"

Translations

earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] n → terremoto

earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] earth n → tremblement m de terre, séisme m

earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] earth n → Erdbeben nt

earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] n → terremoto