- earthquake, quake, temblor, seism - shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
--1 is a kind of geological phenomenon
--1 has particulars:shock, seismic disturbance; tremor, earth tremor, microseism; seaquake, submarine earthquake - earthquake - a disturbance that is extremely disruptive; "selling the company caused an earthquake among the employees"
--2 is a kind of disturbance, disruption, commotion, stir, flutter, hurly burly, to-do, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, kerfuffle