epicentre

/ ˈɛpɪˌsɛntə /

noun

1. the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake or underground nuclear explosion Compare focus

2. informal,  the absolute centre of something

   the epicentre of world sprinting

Other Word Forms

• epicentral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicentre¹

C19: from New Latin epicentrum, from Greek epikentros over the centre, from _epi- + kentron needle; see _centre

Example Sentences

When day broke, Matiullah - who is a freelance journalist and human rights activist - drove from his home to try to reach the remote mountainous area at the epicentre of the quake.

From BBC

The epicentre was in a remote mountainous area, making it difficult for rescue operations to be carried out.

From BBC

"The Bell Hotel is at the epicentre of that."

From BBC

The BBC has been told that the road leading to the epicentre has been blocked because of a landslide, so the Taliban government is using helicopters to get people out.

From BBC

Demonstrators gathered in Parque México in Condesa district – the epicentre of gentrification in the Mexican capital – to protest over a range of grievances.

From BBC