meaning of earthquakes
1. A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock.
2. Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling.
3. shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity