Mercalli scale
[ mer-kah-lee, mer-; Italian mer-kahl-lee ]
/ mərˈkɑ li, mɛr-; Italian mɛrˈkɑl li /
noun Geology.
a measure of earthquake intensity with 12 divisions ranging from I (felt by very few) to XII (total destruction).
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Origin of Mercalli scale
1920–25; named after Giuseppe Mercalli (1850–1914), Italian seismologist
Words nearby Mercalli scale
meranti, merbromin, merc, Merca, mercado, Mercalli scale, mercantile, mercantile agency, mercantile paper, mercantile system, mercantilism
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for Mercalli scale
Mercalli scale
/ (mɜːˈkælɪ) /
noun
a 12-point scale for expressing the intensity of an earthquake, ranging from 1 (not felt, except by few under favourable circumstances) to 12 (total destruction)Compare Richter scale See also intensity (def. 4)
Word Origin for Mercalli scale
C20: named after Giuseppe Mercalli (1850–1914), Italian volcanologist and seismologist
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for Mercalli scale
Mercalli scale
[ mər-kä′lē, mĕr- ]
A scale of earthquake intensity based on observed effects and ranging from I (detectable only with instruments) to XII (causing almost total destruction). It is named after the Italian seismologist Giuseppe Mercalli.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.