shock meaning and definition

SHOCK noun

Definition of shock (noun)

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"
   • synonyms: daze, stupor
2. the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat
   • "the armies met in the shock of battle"
   • synonyms: 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"
   • synonyms: electric shock, electrical 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"
   • synonyms: seismic disturbance
6. an unpleasant or disappointing surprise
   • "it came as a shock to learn that he was injured"
   • synonyms: 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"
   • synonyms: jar, jolt, jounce
10. a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
    • "the old car needed a new set of shocks"
    • synonyms: cushion, shock absorber

SHOCK verb

Definition of shock (verb)

1. surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
   • "I was floored when I heard that I was promoted"
   • synonyms: ball over, blow out of the water, floor, take aback
2. strike with disgust or revulsion
   • "The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends"
   • synonyms: appal, appall, offend, outrage, scandalise, scandalize
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
   • synonyms: traumatise, traumatize