meaning of earthquake
1.  A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise.  The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock. 
2.  Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling. 
3.  shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
						 
