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shock

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shock

1[shok]
–noun
1. a sudden and violent blow or impact; collision.
2. a sudden or violent disturbance or commotion: the shock of battle.
3. a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities: The burglary was a shock to her sense of security. The book provided a shock, nothing more.
4. the cause of such a disturbance: The rebuke came as a shock.
5. Pathology. a collapse of circulatory function, caused by severe injury, blood loss, or disease, and characterized by pallor, sweating, weak pulse, and very low blood pressure. Compare anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock.
6. the physiological effect produced by the passage of an electric current through the body.
7. shocks, Informal. shock absorbers, esp. in the suspension of an automobile.
–verb (used with object)
8. to strike or jar with intense surprise, horror, disgust, etc.: He enjoyed shocking people.
9. to strike against violently.
10. to give an electric shock to.
–verb (used without object)
11. to undergo a shock.

Origin:
1555–65; < MF choc armed encounter, n. deriv. of choquer to clash (in battle) < Gmc; cf. D schokken to shake, jolt, jerk


shock⋅a⋅ble, adjective
shock⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
shock⋅ed⋅ness, noun
shocklike, adjective


8. stagger, astound, stupefy. Shock, startle, paralyze, stun suggest a sudden, sharp surprise that affects one somewhat like a blow. Shock suggests a strong blow, as it were, to one's nerves, sentiments, sense of decency, etc.: The onlookers were shocked by the accident. Startle implies the sharp surprise of sudden fright: to be startled by a loud noise. Paralyze implies such a complete shock as to render one temporarily helpless: paralyzed with fear. Stun implies such a shock as bewilders or stupefies: stunned by the realization of an unpleasant truth.

shock

2[shok]
–noun
1. a group of sheaves of grain placed on end and supporting one another in the field.
–verb (used with object)
2. to make into shocks.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME; c. LG schok shock of grain, group of sixty, G Schock sixty


shocker, noun

shock

3[shok]
–noun
1. a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.
2. Also, shock dog. a dog with long, shaggy hair.
–adjective
3. shaggy, as hair.

Origin:
1810–20; special use of shock 2 , the hair being compared to a shock of wheat
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shock
shock 1   (shŏk)   
n.  
    1. A violent collision or impact; a heavy blow. See Synonyms at collision.

    2. The effect of such a collision or blow.

    3. Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent unexpected blow.

    4. The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.

    1. Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent unexpected blow.

    2. The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.

  1. A severe offense to one's sense of propriety or decency; an outrage.

  2. A potentially fatal physiological reaction to a variety of conditions, including illness, injury, hemorrhage, and dehydration, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure, diminished blood circulation, and inadequate blood flow to the tissues.

  3. The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.

  4. A sudden economic disturbance, such as a rise in the price of a commodity.

  5. A shock absorber.

v.   shocked, shock·ing, shocks

v.   tr.
  1. To strike with great surprise and emotional disturbance.

  2. To strike with disgust; offend.

  3. To induce a state of physical shock in (a person).

  4. To subject (an animal or person) to an electric shock.

v.   intr.
To come into contact violently, as in battle; collide.

[French choc, from choquer, to collide with, from Old French chuquier, perhaps of Germanic origin.]
shock 2   (shŏk)   
n.  
  1. A number of sheaves of grain stacked upright in a field for drying.

  2. A thick heavy mass: a shock of white hair.

tr.v.   shocked, shock·ing, shocks
To gather (grain) into shocks.

[Middle English shok.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: shock
Function: adjective
: of, relating to, or being a criminal sentence or condition of release involving participation in a program of vigorous physical training, discipline, regimentation, and rehabilitation therapy <shock incarceration> <shock probation> <shock parole>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1shock
Pronunciation: 'shäk
Function: noun
1 : a sudden or violent disturbance in the mental or emotional faculties
2 : a state of profound depression of the vital processes of the body that is characterized by pallor, rapid but weak pulse, rapid and shallow respiration, reduced total blood volume,and low blood pressure and that is caused usually by severe especially crushing injuries, hemorrhage, burns, or major surgery shock>
3 : sudden stimulation of the nerves or convulsive contraction of the muscles accompanied by a feeling of concussion that is caused by the discharge through the animal body ofelectricity from a charged source —compare ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY

Main Entry: 2shock
Function: transitive verb
1 : to cause to undergo a physical or nervous shock
2 : to subject to the action ofan electrical discharge
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

shock (shŏk)
n.

  1. Something that jars the mind or emotions as if with a violent, unexpected blow.

  2. The disturbance of function, equilibrium, or mental faculties caused by such a blow; violent agitation.

  3. A generally temporary massive physiological reaction to severe physical or emotional trauma, usually characterized by marked loss of blood pressure and depression of vital processes.

  4. The sensation and muscular spasm caused by an electric current passing through the body or a body part.

  5. The abnormally palpable impact of an accentuated heartbeat felt by a hand on the chest wall.

v.
  1. To induce a state of physical shock in a person.

  2. To subject a person to an electric shock.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
shock   (shŏk)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. An instance of the passage of an electric current through the body. The amount of injury caused by electric shock depends on the type and strength of the current, the length of time the current is applied, and the route the current takes once it enters the body.

  2. A life-threatening condition marked by a severe drop in blood pressure, resulting from serious injury or illness.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

shock

see culture shock.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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