a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion: the shock of battle.
a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities: The burglary was a shock to her sense of security. The book provided a shock, nothing more.
the cause of such a disturbance: The rebuke came as a shock.
Pathology. a collapse of circulatory function, caused by severe injury, blood loss, or disease, and characterized by pallor, sweating, weak pulse, and very low blood pressure.Compare anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock.
the physiological effect produced by the passage of an electric current through the body.
shocks,Informal. shock absorbers, especially in the suspension of an automobile.
verb (used with object)
to strike or jar with intense surprise, horror, disgust, etc.: He enjoyed shocking people.
to strike against violently.
to give an electric shock to.
verb (used without object)
to undergo a shock.
Origin of shock
1
First recorded in 1565–75; from Middle French choc “armed encounter,” noun derivative of choquer “to clash (in battle),” from Germanic (probably Frankish); compare Dutch schokken “to shake, jolt, jerk”
SYNONYMS FOR shock
8 stagger, astound, stupefy.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR shock ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for shock
8. Shock,startle,paralyze,stun suggest a sudden, sharp surprise that affects one somewhat like a blow. Shock suggests a strong blow, as it were, to one's nerves, sentiments, sense of decency, etc.: The onlookers were shocked by the accident.Startle implies the sharp surprise of sudden fright: to be startled by a loud noise.Paralyze implies such a complete shock as to render one temporarily helpless: paralyzed with fear.Stun implies such a shock as bewilders or stupefies: stunned by the realization of an unpleasant truth.
a group of sheaves of grain placed on end and supporting one another in the field.
verb (used with object)
to make into shocks.
Origin of shock
2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English shok, shocke, shok(k)e; cognate with Middle Low German, Low German scok, schok, all meaning “shock of grain, group of sixty,” German Schock “sixty”
OTHER WORDS FROM shock
shocker,noun
Definition for shock (3 of 3)
shock3
[ shok ]
/ ʃɒk /
noun
a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.
Also shock dog . a dog with long, shaggy hair.
adjective
shaggy, as hair.
Origin of shock
3
First recorded in 1815–20; special use of shock2 (the hair being compared to a shock of wheat)
Only those shock waves would produce neutrinos and fast radio bursts at the same time, Metzger says.
Neutrinos could reveal how fast radio bursts are launched|Lisa Grossman|September 16, 2020|Science News
Shortly after his own win, Carlsson shocked his children by getting his forearm inked with the words “World Champion” spiraling around a ladle.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Bowl of Porridge|Clarissa Wei|September 11, 2020|Eater
“I can’t say as it comes as a huge shock to me,” Miyoshi said when told of the EEOC findings.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Confirms a Pattern of Age Discrimination at IBM|by Peter Gosselin, special to ProPublica|September 11, 2020|ProPublica
I’m shocked and I don’t really have anything to say about that.
The Woman Propositioned by Alaska’s Former Lieutenant Governor Tells Her Story for the First Time|by Kyle Hopkins and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
Growth stocks, meanwhile, tend to do well when there’s a big shock, such as a pandemic.
Global stocks climb—and futures jump—after Tuesday’s sell-off|Bernhard Warner|September 9, 2020|Fortune
Citizens were watching in shock from above on the subway station.
Anger at The Cop Killer - And The Police|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But fans still feel the death was a last-minute decision made for shock value rather than to serve the story.
Shock at what the government considers dangerous and high risk could be read across social media.
The UK’s War on Porn: ‘Proof That Men Making These Rules Do Not See Women as Equals’|Aurora Snow|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She lost control of her bladder as she crouched in a corner, shaking, and unable to move her body due to the shock.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some were silent from shock, others giddy and smiling as they boarded the U.S. Air Force C-130s.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I'm awfully sorry we had to give you such a shock for your leave-taking, but accidents will happen, now and then.
The King of Arcadia|Francis Lynde
There was a very dirty lady in his little room, and two wan girls, his daughters, with shock heads of hair.
The Personal History of David Copperfield |Charles Dickens
I am afraid there may be an explosion; and you know my nerves can't stand much of a shock.
Macleod of Dare|William Black
At the first shock came Ibn's two thousand warriors from their concealment, and the invaders fell back in astonishment.
Edmund Dulac's Picture-Book for the French Red Cross|Edmund Dulac
Lost in this mood, the voice of Emmet came to his ears with a shock, a mere succession of sounds with scarce a meaning.
The Mayor of Warwick|Herbert M. Hopkins
British Dictionary definitions for shock (1 of 3)
shock1
/ (ʃɒk) /
verb
to experience or cause to experience extreme horror, disgust, surprise, etcthe atrocities shocked us; she shocks easily
to cause a state of shock in (a person)
to come or cause to come into violent contact; jar
noun
a sudden and violent jarring blow or impact
something that causes a sudden and violent disturbance in the emotionsthe shock of her father's death made her ill
pathola state of bodily collapse or near collapse caused by circulatory failure or sudden lowering of the blood pressure, as from severe bleeding, burns, fright, etc
patholpain and muscular spasm as the physical reaction to an electric current passing through the body
Derived forms of shock
shockable, adjectiveshockability, noun
Word Origin for shock
C16: from Old French choc, from choquier to make violent contact with, of Germanic origin; related to Middle High German schoc
British Dictionary definitions for shock (2 of 3)
shock2
/ (ʃɒk) /
noun
a number of sheaves set on end in a field to dry
a pile or stack of unthreshed corn
verb
(tr)to set up (sheaves) in shocks
Word Origin for shock
C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch schok shock of corn, group of sixty
Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent, unexpected blow.
The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.
A generally temporary massive physiological reaction to severe physical or emotional trauma, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure and depression of vital processes.
The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.
The abnormally palpable impact of an accentuated heartbeat felt by a hand on the chest wall.
An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.
A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.