epicenternoun [ C ]
us/ˈep·ɪˌsent·ər/earth science the point on the earth's surface directly above the origin of an earthquake:
The Great Nicobar islands lie at the closest point to the epicenter of the earthquake.
earth science An epicenter is also the place that has the highest level of an activity:
The U.S. cannot simply assume that it will remain the epicenter of scientific research and technological innovation.