# earthquake

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɜːθkweɪk/ · frequency rank #5,592

## Definitions
1. A shaking of the ground, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults.
2. Such a quake specifically occurring on the planet Earth, as opposed to other celestial bodies.
3. A sudden and intense upheaval; a severely disruptive event.

## Etymology
From Middle English erthequake, corresponding to earth + quake. Displaced Middle English eorð byfung (“earthquake”) from Old English eorþbeofung (literally “earth shaking”).

## Common misspellings (14)
`aerthquake`, `earhtquake`, `earrthquake`, `earthhquake`, `earthqauke`, `earthqquake`, `earthquaek`, `earthquakke`, `earthqukae`, `earthuqake`, `eartqhuake`, `eartthquake`, `eatrhquake`, `erathquake`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/earthquake