shock1
n.
- a sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience, or the resulting feeling.
▸short for electric shock.
- an acute medical condition associated with a fall in blood pressure, caused by loss of blood, severe burns, sudden emotional stress, etc.
- a violent shaking movement caused by an impact, explosion, or tremor.
- short for shock absorber.
v.
- cause (someone) to feel surprised and upset.
▸offend the moral feelings of; outrage.
- affect with physiological shock, or with an electric shock.
- archaic collide violently.
Derivative
- shockability n.
- shockable adj.
- shockproof adj.
Etymology
C16: from Fr. choc (n.), choquer (v.), of unknown origin.
shock2
n.
a group of twelve sheaves of grain placed upright and supporting each other to allow the grain to dry and ripen.
v.
arrange in shocks.
Etymology
ME: perh. from MDu., Mid. Low Ger. schok, of unknown origin.
shock3
n.
an unkempt or thick mass of hair.
Etymology
C17 (denoting a dog with long shaggy hair): origin uncertain; cf. obs. shough, denoting a breed of lapdog.