epicenter

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“
At the epicenter is the grave negligence of bishops.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun The point of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.
  2. noun A focal point: stood at the epicenter of the international crisis.
  3. usage note
    Epicenter is properly a geological term identifying the point of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake. No doubt this is why the Usage Panel approves of figurative extensions of its use in dangerous, destructive, or negative contexts. Eighty-two percent of the Panel accepts the sentence If Rushdie were not at the terrifying epicenter of this furor, it is the sort of event he might write about. The Panel is less fond but still accepting of epicenter when it is used to refer to the focal point of neutral or positive events. Sixty-two percent approve of the sentence The indisputable epicenter of Cortina's social life is the Hotel de la Poste, located squarely in the village center.

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Examples (32)

  • In the last few months, Mendota has come to be known as the epicenter of the drought. —  CBS 47: Local News
  • The Civil Protection Department said the epicenter was near L'Aquila, in the mountainous Abruzzo region. —  News for Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • The earthquake's epicenter was about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Rome near the medieval city of L'Aquila.
  • Narrow medieval streets in L'Aquila and the mountain towns and villages close to the epicenter were making it difficult for rescue vehicles and equipment to access some areas. —  AllDeaf.com
  • Although quakes of that size do not tend to ripple out far from the epicenter, the San Bernardino quake could have changed stress patterns on two of the faults capable of producing a large earthquake, Dolan said. —  Free Internet Press
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Etymologies (1)

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from New Latin epicentrum, from Greek ἐπίκεντρος, on the center-point, from ἐπί, on, + κέντρον, center.
 

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/ˈɛpɪsɛntər/
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