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"
(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"
an instance of agitation of the earth's crust
"the first shock of the earthquake came shortly after noon while workers were at lunch"
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"
a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
"the old car needed a new set of shocks"
A sudden, heavy impact.
"After harvesting the wheat, the farmer carefully tied each shock to keep the grain dry before bringing it into the barn."
Something so surprising that it is stunning.
An arrangement of sheaves for drying; a stook.
In plain English: Shock is a sudden feeling of surprise or disbelief that happens when something unexpected occurs.
"The sudden news was a complete shock to everyone in the room."
surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
"I was floored when I heard that I was promoted"
strike with disgust or revulsion
"The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends"
collide violently
"The two speeding cars collided violently and came to a screeching halt in the middle of the intersection."
subject to electrical shocks
"The old washing machine sparked and gave a sharp shock when I pulled it out of the socket."
inflict a trauma upon
"The sudden news of his disappearance shocked the entire community into a state of disbelief and grief."
To cause to be emotionally shocked, to cause (someone) to feel surprised and upset.
"The farmer used the pitchfork to stack the cut corn stalks into tall, tight shocks before winter arrived."
To collect, or make up, into a shock or shocks; to stook.
In plain English: To shock someone means to surprise them greatly, often by doing something unexpected or upsetting.
"The sudden news shocked everyone at the party."
Usage: Use this verb when an event causes someone sudden emotional distress or surprise rather than physical injury. It often pairs with objects like a person's feelings or reactions, as in "The news shocked her."
A surname.
"My neighbor Mr. Shock invited me to his housewarming party last weekend."
The word shock entered English from Middle Dutch and Middle French, where it originally meant to collide or clash. Its ultimate roots lie in ancient Germanic languages, tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to shake or stir."