Word forms: epicentersregional note: in BRIT, use epicentre
countable noun [usu with poss]
The epicenter of an earthquake is the place on the Earth's surface directly above the point whereit starts, and is the place where it is felt most strongly.
The epicenter of the quake was near the town of Potenza.
epicenter in American English
(ˈɛpɪˌsɛntər)
Word forms: pluralˌepiˈcentra (ˌɛpɪˈsɛntrə)
noun
1.
the area of the earth's surface directly above the place of origin, or focus, of an earthquake
2.
a focal or central point
Also ˌepiˈcentrum (ˌɛpɪˈsɛntrəm)Word forms: pluralˌepiˈcentra (ˌɛpɪˈsɛntrə)
Derived forms
epicentral (ˌepiˈcentral) (ˌɛpɪˈsɛntrəl)
adjective
Word origin
< ModL epicentrum < epi- + L centrum, center
Examples of 'epicenter' in a sentence
epicenter
But they had been a couple for a long time, and she had been at the very epicenter of Comfort's People.