shock

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat

   the armies met in the shock of battle

2. 2
   noun

   an unpleasant or disappointing surprise

   It came as a shock to learn that our favorite restaurant had closed.

3. 3
   noun

   an instance of agitation of the earth's crust

   the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch

4. 4
   noun

   a bushy thick mass of something, especially hair

   They had an unruly shock of black hair.

5. 5
   verb

   collect or gather into shocks

   shock grain

6. 6
   verb

   strike with horror or terror

   The news of the bombing shocked her

7. 7
   verb

   strike with disgust or revulsion

   The dog might shock the kids.

8. 8
   noun

   a reflex response to the passage of electric current through the body

   subjects received a small electric shock when they made the wrong response

Etymology

From Middle Dutch schokken (“to push, jolt, shake, jerk”) or Middle French choquer (“to collide with, clash”), from Old Dutch *skokkan (“to shake up and down, shog”), from Proto-Germanic *skukkaną (“to move, shake, tremble”). Of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *skakaną (“to shake, stir”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kek-, *(s)keg- (“to shake, stir”); see shake. Cognate with Middle Low German schocken (“collide with, deliver a blow to, move back and forth”), Old High German scoc (“a jolt, swing”), Middle High German schocken (“to swing”) (German schaukeln), Old Norse skykkr…