Meaning of the word epicenter in English

What does epicenter mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

epicenter

US /ˈep.ə.sen.t̬ɚ/

UK /ˈep.ɪ.sen.tər/

the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake.

Example:

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The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the coast.

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Scientists quickly identified the epicenter to assess the damage.

Synonym:

hypocenter focus

the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation.

Example:

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The city became the epicenter of the protests.

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He was at the epicenter of the scandal.

Synonym:

center heart core hub nucleus