epicentre

Meanings

Noun

• The point on the land or water surface directly above the focus, or hypocentre, of an earthquake.
• The point on the surface of the earth directly above an underground explosion.
• The focal point of any activity, especially if dangerous or destructive.
• The geographical area in which an ongoing disaster, illness, crisis, or other destructive event is currently most severe.

Verb

• Of an earthquake: to have its epicentre (at a specified location).

Related

Similar words

• ground zero

Opposite words

• hypocentre

Origin

• epi- + centre, from Ancient Greek ἐπί ("on") + κέντρον.
• Sense of “center of an activity (particularly a disaster)” (1908) by generalization from earthquakes, possibly influenced by epidemic.