[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/epicentre/)

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# epicentre

noun (an epicentre, epicentres) — UK spelling; US epicenter

«epicentre» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface right above where an earthquake starts underground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#m1)
2. The epicentre of something is its centre, where it is strongest or busiest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#m2)

### In the lessons

In geography and science lessons: the epicentre of an earthquake, shaking is strongest near it. In news and everyday talk: the epicentre of a storm, of the fun, of a problem. Phrases: the epicentre of, near the epicentre, epicentre of the earthquake.

### Examples

- The epicentre of the earthquake was under a small town. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x1)
- Houses near the epicentre were badly damaged. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x2)
- Scientists found the epicentre using readings from three places. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x3)
- Our kitchen is the epicentre of family life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x4)
- The city was the epicentre of the floods. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x5)
- The shaking was weaker far from the epicentre. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/#x6)

### Note

Spelling: UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland, Canada epicentre; US epicenter. The focus is underground; the epicentre is on the surface above it. In maths: distances from the epicentre are measured in kilometres; damage usually drops as distance grows.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «epicentre»](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/english/E/epicentre/): every meaning and example of this page parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«epicentre» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/epicentre.html) on Mova free.