shock 1
— shockable , adj. — shockability , n. — shockedness , n. — shocklike , adj.
/shok/ , n.
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. Pathol. 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. Cf. 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.
v.t.
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.
v.i.
11. to undergo a shock.
[ 1555-65; choc armed encounter, n. deriv. of choquer to clash (in battle) schokken to shake, jolt, jerk ]
Syn. 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
— shocker , n.
/shok/ , n.
1. a group of sheaves of grain placed on end and supporting one another in the field.
v.t.
2. to make into shocks.
[ 1275-1325; ME; c. LG schok shock of grain, group of sixty, G Schock sixty ]
shock 3
/shok/ , n.
1. a thick, bushy mass, as of hair.
2. Also, shock dog . a dog with long, shaggy hair.
adj.
3. shaggy, as hair.
[ 1810-20; special use of SHOCK 2 , the hair being compared to a shock of wheat ]