epicenter

[ ep-uh-sen-ter ]
/ ˈɛp əˌsɛn tər /

noun

Also epicentrum. Geology. a point, directly above the true center of disturbance, from which the shock waves of an earthquake apparently radiate.
a focal point, as of activity: Manhattan's Chinatown is the epicenter of the city's Chinese community.
Also especially British, ep·i·cen·tre.

Origin of epicenter

1885–90; < New Latin epicentrum < Greek epíkentros on the center. See epi-, center

OTHER WORDS FROM epicenter

ep·i·cen·tral, adjective

Words nearby epicenter

epicardium, epicarp, epicaste, epicedium, epicene, epicenter, epicentre, epicentrum, epichlorohydrin, epicist, epiclesis

Example sentences from the Web for epicentre

British Dictionary definitions for epicentre

epicentre

US epicenter

/ (ˈɛpɪˌsɛntə) /

noun

the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion Compare focus (def. 6)
informal the absolute centre of something the epicentre of world sprinting

Derived forms of epicentre

epicentral, adjective

Word Origin for epicentre

C19: from New Latin epicentrum, from Greek epikentros over the centre, from epi- + kentron needle; see centre

Scientific definitions for epicentre

epicenter
[ ĕp′ĭ-sĕn′tər ]

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.