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epicenter

[ep-uh-sen-ter]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR epicenter ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Related formsep·i·cen·tral, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for epicenter

headquarters, hotbed, core, focus, heart, hub, HQ, ganglion, switchboard

Examples from the Web for epicenter

Contemporary Examples of epicenter

Since then, Kisangani has been the epicenter of nearly every rebellion in the Congo.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis
Nina Strochlic
November 23, 2014
It seemed that I, a staunch feminist, had found myself in the epicenter of macho culture.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture
Eliza Krigman
November 22, 2014
The fact that these tensions are present even at the epicenter of the mindfulness world is telling.
What If Meditation Isn’t Good for You?
Jay Michaelson
November 1, 2014
Liberia, the epicenter of the epidemic, was relying on just 50 doctors to care for the entire nation before the outbreak occurred.
Why New York’s Ebola Case Will Hurt Infected Patients Everywhere
Abby Haglage
October 24, 2014
It removes Europe as the epicenter of creativity in a post-African world.
The Oldest Cave Art May Not Be in Europe
Justin Jones
October 9, 2014

Historical Examples of epicenter

The ground motion near the epicenter was so violent that the tops of some trees were snapped off.
Earthquakes
Kaye M. Shedlock
The location of an earthquake is commonly described by the geographic position of its epicenter and by its focal depth.
Earthquakes
Kaye M. Shedlock
The Santa Cruz mountains suffered little damage from the seismic waves, even though they were close to the epicenter.
Earthquakes
Kaye M. Shedlock

Word Origin and History for epicenter

n.

1887, from Modern Latin epicentrum (1879 in geological use); see epi- + center. Related: Epicentral (1866).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

epicenter in Science

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.

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