epicenter

[ ep-uh-sen-ter ]
See synonyms for epicenter on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also epicentrum. Geology. a point, directly above the true center of disturbance, from which the shock waves of an earthquake apparently radiate.

  2. a focal point, as of activity: Manhattan's Chinatown is the epicenter of the city's Chinese community.

Origin of epicenter

1
1885–90; <New Latin epicentrum<Greek epíkentros on the center. See epi-, center
  • Also especially British, ep·i·cen·tre .

Other words from epicenter

  • ep·i·cen·tral, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use epicenter in a sentence

  • At present, we are concerned more with the position of their epicentres.

  • Dr. Johnston-Lavis, though recognising the possibility of the existence of two epicentres, prefers another explanation.

  • The epicentres may have varied slightly in size, but, in position, it is clear that all four were nearly or quite coincident.

  • As both epicentres lie on the west side of this line, the fault must hade or slope in this direction.

  • The curves in Fig. 53 illustrate the distribution of epicentres during the latter interval.

Scientific definitions for epicenter

epicenter

[ ĕpĭ-sĕn′tər ]


  1. The point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the focus (the point of origin) of an earthquake. The epicenter is usually the location where the greatest damage associated with an earthquake occurs. See Note at earthquake.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.