shock

Noun

• a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
  • the old car needed a new set of shocks
    

• a sudden jarring impact
  • the door closed with a jolt
    
  • all the jars and jolts were smoothed out by the shock absorbers
    

• a bushy thick mass (especially hair)
  • he had an unruly shock of black hair
    

• 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
    

• an unpleasant or disappointing surprise
  • it came as a shock to learn that he was injured
    

• an instance of agitation of the earth's crust
  • the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch
    

• (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
    

• 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
    

• the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat
  • the armies met in the shock of battle
    

• 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
    

Verb

• inflict a trauma upon

• subject to electrical shocks

• collect or gather into shocks
  • shock grain
    

• collide violently

• strike with horror or terror
  • The news of the bombing shocked her
    

• strike with disgust or revulsion
  • The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends
    

• surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
  • I was floored when I heard that I was promoted
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  shock absorber , cushion , jolt , jar , jounce , blow , seismic disturbance , electric shock , electrical shock , impact , daze , stupor , traumatize , traumatise , offend , scandalize , scandalise , appal , appall , outrage , floor , ball over , blow out of the water , take aback