Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun seismology The point on the land or water surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.
  • noun military The point on the surface directly above an underground explosion.
  • noun figuratively The focal point of any activity, especially if dangerous or destructive.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Coined based on Ancient Greek ἐπί (epi, "on") + κέντρον (kentron, "centre").

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Examples

  • Sudan advised Kampala to evacuate its nationals from a zone it called the epicentre of civil war.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1995

  • Many of Dr Kaufman's better finds, he says, have come from "hanging out at street corners with a clipboard on Roosevelt Avenue"-a street pictured above in the borough of Queens that he describes as the "epicentre of the epicentre" of linguistic New York.

    The Economist: Daily news and views 2011

  • AIDS cases in the world, has been dubbed the epicentre of the

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1999

  • But the cave is also known as the epicentre for two outbreaks of an Ebola-type virus known as Marburg.

    Thestar.com - Home Page Nancy J. White 2011

  • There is overlap, but every system has an epicentre, which is critical, said Dr. Gilboa, who moved to Toronto from Israel last year.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed ANNE McILROY 2011

  • The epicentre was a village about 15 miles north of Van, the Kandilli institute said.

    The Guardian World News Constanze Letsch 2011

  • Constable Shenher described as the "epicentre" of the area from where street prostitutes were going missing.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed ROBERT MATAS 2012

  • The epicentre is the food section, bathed in the aroma of garlic and sizzling pork, a pan-Asian street food fest of shrimp dumplings, spicy noodles and grilled squid.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Margo Pfeiff 2011

  • But the cave is also known as the epicentre for two outbreaks of an Ebola-type virus known as Marburg.

    Thestar.com - Home Page Nancy J. White 2011

  • There is overlap, but every system has an epicentre, which is critical, said Dr. Gilboa, who moved to Toronto from Israel last year.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed ANNE McILROY 2011

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