any device designed to absorb mechanical shock, esp one fitted to a motor vehicle to damp the recoil of the suspension springs
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
shock ab•sorb•er /ˈʃɑk æbˌsɔrbɚ, æbˌzɔr-/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Mechanical Engineeringa device for cushioning the effects of motion, as in the wheels of a car.
shock′ absorb′er, [Mach.]
- Mechanical Engineeringa device for damping sudden and rapid motion, as the recoil of a spring-mounted object from shock.
- 1905–10
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'shock absorber' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
MacPherson strut
- absorber
- cushion
- damper
- hydraulic accumulator
- oleo strut
- snub
- stabilizer