shock
♦♦ shock /ʃ'ɒk/ (shocks shocking shocked)
1 [N-COUNT]
If you have a shock, something suddenly happens which is unpleasant, upsetting, or very surprising.
The extent of the violence came as a shock...
He has never recovered from the shock of your brother's death...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Shock is a person's emotional and physical condition when something very frightening or upsetting has happened to them.
She's still in a state of shock.
3 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If someone is in shock, they are suffering from a serious physical condition in which their blood is not flowing round their body properly, for example because they have had a bad injury.
They escaped the blaze but were rushed to hospital suffering from shock.
4 [VERB] V n
If something shocks you, it makes you feel very upset, because it involves death or suffering and because you had not expected it.
After forty years in the police force nothing much shocks me...
● shocked [ADJ]
This was a nasty attack and the woman is still very shocked.
5 [VERB] V n, be V-ed, V
If someone or something shocks you, it upsets or offends you because you think it is rude or morally wrong.
You can't shock me...
They were easily shocked in those days...
We were always trying to be creative and to shock.
● shocked [ADJ]
Don't look so shocked.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
A shock announcement or event is one which shocks people because it is unexpected. (JOURNALISM)
...the shock announcement that she is to resign.
...a shock defeat.
7 [N-VAR]
A shock is the force of something suddenly hitting or pulling something else.
Steel barriers can bend and absorb the shock.
8 [N-COUNT]
A shock is the same as an electric shock.
9 [N-COUNT] N of n
A shock of hair is a very thick mass of hair on a person's head. (WRITTEN)
...a very old priest with a shock of white hair.
10
see also shocking, culture shock, shell shock, shell shockcul|ture shock
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Culture shock is a feeling of anxiety, loneliness, and confusion that people sometimes experience when they first arrive in another country.
Callum, recently arrived in Glasgow, is jobless, homeless, friendless, and suffering from culture shock.elec|tric shock (electric shocks)
[N-COUNT]
If you get an electric shock, you get a sudden painful feeling when you touch something which is connected to a supply of electricity.shell shock
also shell-shock
[N-UNCOUNT]
Shell shock is the confused or nervous mental condition of people who have been under fire in a war.
The men were suffering from shell shock.shock ab|sorb|er (shock absorbers)
also shock-absorber
[N-COUNT]
A shock absorber is a device fitted near the wheels of a car or other vehicle to reduce the effects of travelling over uneven ground.
...a pair of rear shock absorbers.shock hor|ror
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
A shock horror story is presented in a way that is intended to cause great shock or anger. (INFORMAL)
The media is full of shock-horror headlines about under-age crime.
= sensational
2 [EXCLAM]
You can say shock horror! in reaction to something that other people may find shocking or surprising, to indicate that you do not find it shocking or surprising at all. (HUMOROUS, INFORMAL)
I felt intellectually superior despite-shock horror-my lack of qualifications.shock jock (shock jocks)
[N-COUNT]
A shock jock is a radio disc jockey who deliberately uses language or expresses opinions that many people find offensive. (INFORMAL)shock tac|tic (shock tactics)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Shock tactics are a way of trying to influence people's attitudes to a particular matter by shocking them.
We must use shock tactics if we are to stop Aids becoming another accepted 20th-century disease.shock thera|py
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
You can refer to the use of extreme policies or actions to solve a particular problem quickly as shock therapy.
...Prague's policy of economic shock therapy.
= shock treatment
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Shock therapy is a way of treating mentally ill patients by passing an electric current through their brain.
= shock treatmentshock treat|ment (shock treatments)
[N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Shock treatment is the same as shock therapy.shock troops
[N-PLURAL]
Shock troops are soldiers who are specially trained to carry out a quick attack.shock wave (shock waves)
also shockwave
1 [N-COUNT]
A shock wave is an area of very high pressure moving through the air, earth, or water. It is caused by an explosion or an earthquake, or by an object travelling faster than sound.
The shock waves yesterday were felt from Las Vegas to San Diego.
2 [N-COUNT]
A shock wave is the effect of something surprising, such as a piece of unpleasant news, that causes strong reactions when it spreads through a place.
The crime sent shock waves throughout the country.
1 [N-COUNT]
If you have a shock, something suddenly happens which is unpleasant, upsetting, or very surprising.
The extent of the violence came as a shock...
He has never recovered from the shock of your brother's death...
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Shock is a person's emotional and physical condition when something very frightening or upsetting has happened to them.
She's still in a state of shock.
3 [N-UNCOUNT] oft in N
If someone is in shock, they are suffering from a serious physical condition in which their blood is not flowing round their body properly, for example because they have had a bad injury.
They escaped the blaze but were rushed to hospital suffering from shock.
4 [VERB] V n
If something shocks you, it makes you feel very upset, because it involves death or suffering and because you had not expected it.
After forty years in the police force nothing much shocks me...
● shocked [ADJ]
This was a nasty attack and the woman is still very shocked.
5 [VERB] V n, be V-ed, V
If someone or something shocks you, it upsets or offends you because you think it is rude or morally wrong.
You can't shock me...
They were easily shocked in those days...
We were always trying to be creative and to shock.
● shocked [ADJ]
Don't look so shocked.
6 [ADJ] ADJ n
A shock announcement or event is one which shocks people because it is unexpected. (JOURNALISM)
...the shock announcement that she is to resign.
...a shock defeat.
7 [N-VAR]
A shock is the force of something suddenly hitting or pulling something else.
Steel barriers can bend and absorb the shock.
8 [N-COUNT]
A shock is the same as an electric shock.
9 [N-COUNT] N of n
A shock of hair is a very thick mass of hair on a person's head. (WRITTEN)
...a very old priest with a shock of white hair.
10
see also shocking, culture shock, shell shock, shell shockcul|ture shock
[N-UNCOUNT] also a N
Culture shock is a feeling of anxiety, loneliness, and confusion that people sometimes experience when they first arrive in another country.
Callum, recently arrived in Glasgow, is jobless, homeless, friendless, and suffering from culture shock.elec|tric shock (electric shocks)
[N-COUNT]
If you get an electric shock, you get a sudden painful feeling when you touch something which is connected to a supply of electricity.shell shock
also shell-shock
[N-UNCOUNT]
Shell shock is the confused or nervous mental condition of people who have been under fire in a war.
The men were suffering from shell shock.shock ab|sorb|er (shock absorbers)
also shock-absorber
[N-COUNT]
A shock absorber is a device fitted near the wheels of a car or other vehicle to reduce the effects of travelling over uneven ground.
...a pair of rear shock absorbers.shock hor|ror
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
A shock horror story is presented in a way that is intended to cause great shock or anger. (INFORMAL)
The media is full of shock-horror headlines about under-age crime.
= sensational
2 [EXCLAM]
You can say shock horror! in reaction to something that other people may find shocking or surprising, to indicate that you do not find it shocking or surprising at all. (HUMOROUS, INFORMAL)
I felt intellectually superior despite-shock horror-my lack of qualifications.shock jock (shock jocks)
[N-COUNT]
A shock jock is a radio disc jockey who deliberately uses language or expresses opinions that many people find offensive. (INFORMAL)shock tac|tic (shock tactics)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Shock tactics are a way of trying to influence people's attitudes to a particular matter by shocking them.
We must use shock tactics if we are to stop Aids becoming another accepted 20th-century disease.shock thera|py
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
You can refer to the use of extreme policies or actions to solve a particular problem quickly as shock therapy.
...Prague's policy of economic shock therapy.
= shock treatment
2 [N-UNCOUNT]
Shock therapy is a way of treating mentally ill patients by passing an electric current through their brain.
= shock treatmentshock treat|ment (shock treatments)
[N-UNCOUNT] also N in pl
Shock treatment is the same as shock therapy.shock troops
[N-PLURAL]
Shock troops are soldiers who are specially trained to carry out a quick attack.shock wave (shock waves)
also shockwave
1 [N-COUNT]
A shock wave is an area of very high pressure moving through the air, earth, or water. It is caused by an explosion or an earthquake, or by an object travelling faster than sound.
The shock waves yesterday were felt from Las Vegas to San Diego.
2 [N-COUNT]
A shock wave is the effect of something surprising, such as a piece of unpleasant news, that causes strong reactions when it spreads through a place.
The crime sent shock waves throughout the country.