seismic

[ sahyz-mik, sahys- ]
See synonyms for seismic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by an earthquake or vibration of the earth, whether due to natural or artificial causes.

Origin of seismic

1
First recorded in 1855–60; seism + -ic
  • Sometimes seis·mal [sahyz-muhl, sahys-], /ˈsaɪz məl, ˈsaɪs-/, seis·mi·cal .

Other words from seismic

  • seis·mi·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·seis·mic, adjective
  • un·seis·mal, adjective
  • un·seis·mic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use seismic in a sentence

  • Does it, however, necessarily follow that seismal devastation spreads in every direction?

British Dictionary definitions for seismic

seismic

/ (ˈsaɪzmɪk) /


adjective
  1. relating to or caused by earthquakes or artificially produced earth tremors: Also (less commonly): seismical (ˈsaɪzmɪkəl)

  2. of enormous proportions or having highly significant consequences: seismic social change

Derived forms of seismic

  • seismically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for seismic

seismic

[ sīzmĭk ]


  1. Relating to an earthquake or to other tremors of the Earth, such as those caused by large explosions.

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