Shock definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
(
ʃɑk
)
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.
See
shocks
transitive verb
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
intransitive verb
11.
to undergo a shock
SYNONYMS
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.
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