epicentre
UK /ˈɛpɪˌsɛntə/ · US /ˈɛpɪˌsɛntɚ/ noun, verb
Forms epicentres epicentring epicentred epicenter
- noun (seismology) The point on the land or water surface directly above the focus, or hypocentre, of an earthquake.
- noun (military) The point on the surface of the earth directly above an underground explosion.
- noun (figuratively, proscribed) The focal point of any activity, especially if dangerous or destructive.
- noun (figuratively, proscribed) The geographical area in which an ongoing disaster, illness, crisis, or other destructive event is currently most severe.
- verb Of an earthquake: to have its epicentre (at a specified location).
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From epi- (“over, on top”) + centre, from Ancient Greek ἐπί (epí, “on”) + κέντρον (kéntron, “centre”).
Sense of “center of an activity (particularly a disaster)” (1908) by generalization from earthquakes, possibly influenced by epidemic.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “epicentre”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details