shock wavenoun [ C ]
uk/ˈʃɒk ˌweɪv/us/ˈʃɑːk ˌweɪv/a sudden wave of increased pressure or temperature, caused by an explosion, an earthquake, or an object moving faster than the speed of sound
a very strong reaction that spreads through a group of people when something surprising or bad happens:
The assassination of the president sent shock waves across the world.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Geology: earthquakes & volcanic eruptions
- active
- aftershock
- crater
- earthquake
- epicentre
- extinct
- geyser
- lahar
- lava
- magma
- quake
- seismic
- seismograph
- seismology
- subduction
- the Richter scale
- tremor
- volcano
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Reacting and responding