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

Derived Forms

• ˌepiˈcentral, 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

Burkina Faso is in West Africa's Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group and is also home to numerous others jihadist groups.

From BBC

She added that the pair "devoured art and music and film like hungry animals" in the city, and "were in the epicentre of all of these things exploding".

From BBC

On Monday, Mayor Patrick Fitzsimmons found himself at the epicentre of a disaster zone.

From BBC

However, he says there is now plenty of data that "really points to the market as the true early epicentre" and "even locations within that market".

From BBC

Edinburgh’s status as Scotland’s epicentre of private schools, and the prestigious people who studied at those schools, have helped it maintain its reputation as Scotland’s place of power and wealth.

From BBC