Adjacent Words

Shock definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SHOCK, n.
1. A violent collision of bodies, or the concussion which it occasions; a viosent striking or dashing against.
The strong unshaken mounds resist the shocks
Of tides and seas. Blackmore.
2. Violent onset; conflict of contending armies or foes.
He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. Addison.
3. External violence; as the shocks of fortune.
4. Offense; impression of disgust.
Fewer shocks a staesman gives his friend. Young.
5. In electricity, the effect on the animal system of a discharge of the fluid from a charged body.
6. A pile of sheaves of wheat, rey, etc.
And cause it on shocks to be by and by set. Tusser.
Behind th emaster walks, builds up th eshocks. Thomson.
7. In New England, the number of sixteen sheaves of wheat, rye, etc. [This is the sense in which this word is generally used with us.]
8. A dog with long rough hair or shag. [from shag.]
SHOCK, v.t.
1. To shake by the sudden collision of a body.
2. To meet with force; to encounter.
3. To strike, as with horror or disgust; to cause to recoil, as from something odious or horrible; to offend extremely; to disgust. I was shocked at the sight of so much misery. A void everything that can shock the feelings of delicacy.
Advise him not to shock a father's will. Dryden.
SHOCK, v.i. To collect sheaves into a pile; to pile sheaves.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally; "his mother's death left him in a daze"; "he was numb with shock" [syn: daze, shock, stupor]
2: the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat; "the armies met in the shock of battle" [syn: shock, impact]
3: a reflex response to the passage of electric current through the body; "subjects received a small electric shock when they made the wrong response"; "electricians get accustomed to occasional shocks" [syn: electric shock, electrical shock, shock]
4: (pathology) bodily collapse or near collapse caused by inadequate oxygen delivery to the cells; characterized by reduced cardiac output and rapid heartbeat and circulatory insufficiency and pallor; "loss of blood is an important cause of shock"
5: an instance of agitation of the earth's crust; "the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch" [syn: shock, seismic disturbance]
6: an unpleasant or disappointing surprise; "it came as a shock to learn that he was injured" [syn: shock, blow]
7: a pile of sheaves of grain set on end in a field to dry; stalks of Indian corn set up in a field; "corn is bound in small sheaves and several sheaves are set up together in shocks"; "whole fields of wheat in shock"
8: a bushy thick mass (especially hair); "he had an unruly shock of black hair"
9: a sudden jarring impact; "the door closed with a jolt"; "all the jars and jolts were smoothed out by the shock absorbers" [syn: jolt, jar, jounce, shock]
10: a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses; "the old car needed a new set of shocks" [syn: shock absorber, shock, cushion] v
1: surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off; "I was floored when I heard that I was promoted" [syn: shock, floor, ball over, blow out of the water, take aback]
2: strike with disgust or revulsion; "The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends" [syn: shock, offend, scandalize, scandalise, appal, appall, outrage]
3: strike with horror or terror; "The news of the bombing shocked her"
4: collide violently
5: collect or gather into shocks; "shock grain"
6: subject to electrical shocks
7: inflict a trauma upon [syn: traumatize, traumatise, shock]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English; akin to Middle High German schoc heap Date: 14th century a pile of sheaves of grain or stalks of Indian corn set up in a field with the butt ends down II. transitive verb Date: 15th century to collect into shocks III. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle French choc, from choquer to strike against, from Old French choquier, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schocken to jolt Date: 1565 1. the impact or encounter of individuals or groups in combat 2. a. a violent shake or jar ; concussion b. an effect of such violence 3. a. (1) a disturbance in the equilibrium or permanence of something (2) a sudden or violent mental or emotional disturbance b. something that causes such disturbance <the loss came as a shock> c. a state of being so disturbed <were in shock after they heard the news> 4. a state of profound depression of the vital processes associated with reduced blood volume and pressure and caused usually by severe especially crushing injuries, hemorrhage, or burns 5. sudden stimulation of the nerves and convulsive contraction of the muscles caused by the discharge of electricity through the animal body 6. a. stroke 5 b. coronary thrombosis 7. shock absorber Synonyms: see impact IV. verb Date: 1656 transitive verb 1. a. to strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust b. to cause to undergo a physical or nervous shock c. to subject to the action of an electrical discharge 2. to drive by or as if by a shock intransitive verb 1. to meet with a shock ; collide 2. to cause surprise or shock <an exhibit meant to shock> • shockable adjective V. adjective Etymology: perhaps from ¹shock Date: 1681 bushy, shaggy VI. noun Date: 1819 a thick bushy mass (as of hair)

Britannica Concise

State in which the circulatory system fails to supply enough blood to peripheral tissues to meet basic requirements. Symptoms--weak, rapid pulse; low blood pressure; and cold, sweaty skin--are not all present in every case. Causes include low blood volume, caused by bleeding or fluid loss from burns or dehydration; inability of the heart to pump enough blood, due to myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, or cardiac tamponade (compression of the heart by fluid in the membrane around it); and blood-vessel dilation as a result of septicemia, allergy (incl. anaphylaxis), or drugs. All result in reduced capillary blood flow; reflexes increase heart rate and constrict small blood vessels to protect the blood supply to essential organs. Without treatment of the underlying cause, these mechanisms fail; since the cause is not always clear, cases tend to require different and occasionally contradictory treatment (e.g., intravenous fluids can save the life of a patient with massive blood loss but can overload a weakened heart).

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a violent collision, impact, tremor, etc. 2 a sudden and disturbing effect on the emotions, physical reactions, etc. (the news was a great shock). 3 an acute state of prostration following a wound, pain, etc., esp. when much blood is lost (died of shock). 4 = electric shock. 5 a disturbance in stability causing fluctuations in an organization, monetary system, etc. --v. 1 tr. a affect with shock; horrify; outrage; disgust; sadden. b (absol.) cause shock. 2 tr. (esp. in passive) affect with an electric or pathological shock. 3 intr. experience shock (I don't shock easily). 4 intr. archaic collide violently. Phrases and idioms: shock absorber a device on a vehicle etc. for absorbing shocks, vibrations, etc. shock-brigade (or -workers) a body of esp. voluntary workers in the USSR engaged in an especially arduous task. shock stall excessive strain produced by air resistance on an aircraft approaching the speed of sound. shock tactics 1 sudden and violent action. 2 Mil. a massed cavalry charge. shock therapy (or treatment) Psychol. a method of treating depressive patients by electric shock or drugs inducing coma and convulsions. shock troops troops specially trained for assault. shock wave a sharp change of pressure in a narrow region travelling through air etc. caused by explosion or by a body moving faster than sound. Derivatives: shockable adj. shockability n. Etymology: F choc, choquer, of unkn. orig. 2. n. & v. --n. a group of usu. twelve corn-sheaves stood up with their heads together in a field. --v.tr. arrange (corn) in shocks. Etymology: ME, perh. repr. OE sc(e)oc (unrecorded) 3. n. an unkempt or shaggy mass of hair. Etymology: cf. obs. shock(-dog), earlier shough, shaggy-haired poodle

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, n. [OE. schokke; cf. OD schocke, G. schock a heap, quantity, threescore, MHG. schoc, Sw. skok, and also G. hocke a heap of hay, Lith. kugis.] 1. A pile or assemblage of sheaves of grain, as wheat, rye, or the like, set up in a field, the sheaves varying in number from twelve to sixteen; a stook. And cause it on shocks to be by and by set. --Tusser. Behind the master walks, builds up the shocks. --Thomson. 2. [G. schock.] (Com.) A lot consisting of sixty pieces; -- a term applied in some Baltic ports to loose goods.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, v. i. To meet with a shock; to meet in violent encounter. ``They saw the moment approach when the two parties would shock together.'' --De Quincey.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, n. [Cf. Shag.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A dog with long hair or shag; -- called also shockdog. 2. A thick mass of bushy hair; as, a head covered with a shock of sandy hair.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, a. Bushy; shaggy; as, a shock hair. His red shock peruke . . . was laid aside. --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, v. t. To collect, or make up, into a shock or shocks; to stook; as, to shock rye.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, v. i. To be occupied with making shocks. Reap well, scatter not, gather clean that is shorn, Bind fast, shock apace. --Tusser.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Shocking.] [OE. schokken; cf. D. schokken, F. choquer, Sp. chocar. [root]161. Cf. Chuck to strike, Jog, Shake, Shock a striking, Shog, n. & v.] 1. To give a shock to; to cause to shake or waver; hence, to strike against suddenly; to encounter with violence. Come the three corners of the world in arms, And we shall shock them. --Shak. I shall never forget the force with which he shocked De Vipont. --Sir W. Scott. 2. To strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust; to cause to recoil; as, his violence shocked his associates. Advise him not to shock a father's will. --Dryden.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, n. [Cf. D. schok a bounce, jolt, or leap, OHG. scoc a swing, MHG. schoc, Icel. skykkjun tremuously, F. choc a shock, collision, a dashing or striking against, Sp. choque, It. ciocco a log. [root]161. Cf. Shock to shake.] 1. A quivering or shaking which is the effect of a blow, collision, or violent impulse; a blow, impact, or collision; a concussion; a sudden violent impulse or onset. These strong, unshaken mounds resist the shocks Of tides and seas tempestuous. --Blackmore. He stood the shock of a whole host of foes. --Addison. 2. A sudden agitation of the mind or feelings; a sensation of pleasure or pain caused by something unexpected or overpowering; also, a sudden agitating or overpowering event. ``A shock of pleasure.'' --Talfourd. 3. (Med.) A sudden depression of the vital forces of the entire body, or of a port of it, marking some profound impression produced upon the nervous system, as by severe injury, overpowering emotion, or the like. 4. (Elec.) The sudden convulsion or contraction of the muscles, with the feeling of a concussion, caused by the discharge, through the animal system, of electricity from a charged body. Syn: Concussion, Shock. Usage: Both words signify a sudden violent shaking caused by impact or colision; but concussion is restricted in use to matter, while shock is used also of mental states.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Shock Shock, v. t. (Physiol.) To subject to the action of an electrical discharge so as to cause a more or less violent depression or commotion of the nervous system.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(shocks, shocking, shocked) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you have a shock, something suddenly happens which is unpleasant, upsetting, or very surprising. The extent of the violence came as a shock... He has never recovered from the shock of your brother's death... N-COUNT 2. Shock is a person's emotional and physical condition when something very frightening or upsetting has happened to them. She's still in a state of shock. N-UNCOUNT 3. If someone is in shock, they are suffering from a serious physical condition in which their blood is not flowing round their body properly, for example because they have had a bad injury. They escaped the blaze but were rushed to hospital suffering from shock. N-UNCOUNT: oft in N 4. If something shocks you, it makes you feel very upset, because it involves death or suffering and because you had not expected it. After forty years in the police force nothing much shocks me... VERB: V n • shocked This was a nasty attack and the woman is still very shocked. ADJ 5. If someone or something shocks you, it upsets or offends you because you think it is rude or morally wrong. You can't shock me... They were easily shocked in those days... We were always trying to be creative and to shock. VERB: V n, be V-ed, V • shocked Don't look so shocked. ADJ 6. A shock announcement or event is one which shocks people because it is unexpected. (JOURNALISM) ...the shock announcement that she is to resign. ...a shock defeat. ADJ: ADJ n 7. A shock is the force of something suddenly hitting or pulling something else. Steel barriers can bend and absorb the shock. N-VAR 8. A shock is the same as an electric shock. N-COUNT 9. A shock of hair is a very thick mass of hair on a person's head. (WRITTEN) ...a very old priest with a shock of white hair. N-COUNT: N of n 10. see also shocking, culture shock, electric shock, shell shock

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Concussion, collision, shog, clash, impact, percussion. 2. Brunt, onset, assault, hostile encounter, conflict. 3. Blow, stroke, agitation, offence. 4. Stook, hattock. II. v. a. 1. Shake, strike against, come into collision with, collide. 2. Encounter, meet. 3. Offend, disgust, disturb, disquiet, nauseate, sicken, scandalize, revolt, outrage. 4. Stun, astound, stagger. 5. Appall, terrify, affright, frighten, dismay, horrify. III. a. Shaggy, matted, shagged.

Moby Thesaurus

AC arc, Poulsen arc, abscess, accident, ache, aching, agitate, ague, amplify, anaphylactic shock, anemia, ankylosis, anoxia, aperiodic discharge, apnea, appall, appulse, arc, arc column, arc discharge, asphyxiation, asthma, astonish, astound, ataxia, atrophy, awe, backache, bank, batch, battle fatigue, bleeding, blennorhea, blow, bob, bobble, bombshell, bounce, bowl down, bowl over, breakdown, brunt, brush discharge, bulldozing, bulling, bump, bunch, cachexia, cachexy, calamity, cannon, carambole, carom, casualty, cataclysm, catalepsy, catastrophe, charge, chatter, chill, chills, clash, clump, cluster, cock, colic, collapse, collision, coma, combat fatigue, concussion, constipation, contretemps, convulsion, copse, coughing, crack-up, cramp, crash, crop, crump, crunch, cut, cyanosis, daze, diarrhea, didder, disaster, discharge, discombobulate, discompose, disconcert, disgust, disquiet, disruptive discharge, distress, disturb, dither, dizziness, dolor, dropsy, dumbfound, dysentery, dyspepsia, dyspnea, edema, electric discharge, electric shock, electric spark, electrify, electrodeless discharge, emaciation, encephalitis lethargica, encounter, energize, eye-opener, fainting, falter, fatigue, fever, fibrillation, flabbergast, fleece, floor, flurry, fluster, flutter, flux, freeze, frighten, fuss, galvanic shock, galvanize, generate, give offense, glow discharge, grief, grimace, gross out, group, grouping, groupment, grove, growth, hammering, hassock, have an ague, head, head of hair, hemorrhage, high, high blood pressure, hill, horrify, hurt, hustle, hydrops, hypertension, hypoglycemic shock, hypotension, icterus, ill hap, impact, impingement, indigestion, inflammation, injury, insomnia, insult, itching, jactitate, jar, jaundice, jerk, jig, jigget, jiggle, jog, joggle, jolt, jostle, jounce, jump, knock, knot, labored breathing, lesion, lethargy, locks, loop in, lot, low blood pressure, lumbago, mane, marasmus, mat, mauling, meeting, mental shock, mess, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, mop, mound, narcohypnosis, narcolepsy, narcoma, narcosis, narcotic stupor, narcotization, nasal discharge, nasty blow, nausea, nauseate, necrosis, nervous exhaustion, neurogenic shock, nod, numb, offend, onslaught, oscillatory discharge, outrage, pain, pang, paralysis, paralyze, passion, percussion, perturb, petrify, pileup, plug in, prostration, protein shock, pruritus, put off, pyramid, quake, quaker, quaver, quiver, ramming, rash, rattle, repel, repercussion, revelation, revolt, rheum, rick, rictus, rock, ruck, ruffle, scandalize, scare, scare stiff, scare to death, sclerosis, secondary shock, sedation, seizure, serum shock, shag, shake, shake up, shell shock, shipwreck, shiver, shocker, short, short-circuit, shudder, sicken, sideswipe, silent discharge, skin eruption, sledgehammering, sleeping sickness, slew, smash, smash-up, smashing, smashup, sneezing, sopor, sore, sore spot, spark, spark gap, spasm, stack, stagger, staggering blow, start, startle, step down, step up, stiffen, stir, stockpile, stook, stress, stress of life, strike dumb, strike terror into, stroke, stun, stupefaction, stupefy, stupor, suffering, surgical shock, surprise, switch off, switch on, swoon, tabes, tachycardia, take aback, temblor, tender spot, terrify, thanatosis, thatch, thicket, throes, throw, thrusting, thunderbolt, tic, tingle, tragedy, trance, trauma, traumatism, traumatize, tremble, tremor, tresses, trouble, tuft, tumor, turn, turn off, turn on, turn the stomach, tussock, twitch, twitter, unsettle, upset, upset stomach, vertigo, vibrate, vomiting, wasting, whomp, wisp, wobble, wound, wound shock, wreck, wrench