seismology

American  

[sahyz-mol-uh-jee, sahys-] / saɪzˈmɒl ə dʒi, saɪs- /

noun

1. the science or study of earthquakes and their phenomena.

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seismology British  

/ ˌsaɪzməˈlɒdʒɪk, saɪzˈmɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of geology concerned with the study of earthquakes and seismic waves

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seismology Scientific  

/ sīz-mŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of earthquakes and of the internal structure of the Earth. It includes the study of the origin, geographic distribution, effects, and possible prediction of earthquakes.

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seismology Cultural  

1. The branch of science devoted to the study of seismic waves and the information they provide about the structure of the interior of the Earth.

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Discover More

Our knowledge of the properties of the crust, the mantle, and the core comes from this field.

Other Word Forms

• seismologic
  adjective
• seismological
  adjective
• seismologically
  adverb
• seismologist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of seismology

First recorded in 1855–60; seismo- + -logy

Explanation

If you're fascinated by earthquakes and the science behind them, you might want to study seismology. This branch of geology includes learning about tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquake prediction. The noun seismology comes from the Greek word for "earthquake," seismos, which stems from seiein, "to shake, agitate, or shiver." The suffix -logy is used to mean "the study of." Someone who's an expert in seismology is called a seismologist, and they study the seismic waves sent by earthquakes and the effects of earthquakes (like tsunamis), as well as the causes.

Example Sentences

UC Berkeley is also working to make MyShake available for the Windows operating system, said Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismology Laboratory.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2024

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned of damage and aftershocks in an advisory but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

From Reuters • Nov. 2, 2023

Three tremors of 4.3, 4.1 and 3.8 magnitude also hit the region later Sunday, according to India’s Center for Seismology.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 22, 2023

In a 2021 blog post, the Seismology Lab explained why we don’t know when an earthquake will happen before it starts.

From Washington Times • Dec. 22, 2022

“Dr. Timothy Morales,” Mr. Rowan read, “Department of Seismology, University of Washington. You study earthquakes? Well, you came to the right place today.”

From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis