GC: n

S: http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/locating.html (last access: 29 July 2015); http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-epicenter-of-an-earthquake-definition-location.html (last access: 29 July 2015).

N: 1. 1887 in seismology, “point on the earth’s surface directly above the center or focus of an earthquake,” from Modern Latin epicentrum (1879 in geological use); see epi- + center (n.). Related: Epicentral (1866).
epicentre (n.): chiefly British English spelling of epicenter; for spelling, see -re.
2. That point on the Earth’s surface which is directly above the focus of an earthquake.
3. epicentre, point on the surface of the Earth that is directly above the underground point (called the focus) where fault rupture commences, producing an earthquake. The effects of the earthquake may not be most severe in the vicinity of the epicentre. The epicentre can be located by computing arcs from each of three or more seismic observatories, with the arcs’ radii proportional to the time of travel of seismic waves from the focus to each station. The point of intersection of the arcs marks the epicentre. Equivalent algebraic analysis is conducted in computer programs.

S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=epicenter&searchmode=none (last access: 3 September 2014). 2. GDT (last access: 29 July 2015). 3. EncBrit – http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/189694/epicentre (last access: 15 November 2013).

SYN: 1. epicentre, epicentrum. 2. epicentrum. 3. epicentre.

S: 1. GDT (last access: 29 July 2015). 2. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 29 July 2015). 3. IATE (last access: 29 July 2015).

CR: hypocenter, Richter scale, seism.