seismic

American  

[sahyz-mik, sahys-] / ˈsaɪz mɪk, ˈsaɪs- /

Sometimes seismal

adjective

1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or caused by an earthquake or vibration of the earth, whether due to natural or artificial causes.

---

seismic British  

/ ˈsaɪzmɪk /

adjective

1. Also (less commonly): seismical.  relating to or caused by earthquakes or artificially produced earth tremors

2. of enormous proportions or having highly significant consequences

   seismic social change

---

seismic Scientific  

/ sīz′mĭk /

1. Relating to an earthquake or to other tremors of the Earth, such as those caused by large explosions.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonseismic adjective
• seismically adverb
• unseismal adjective
• unseismic adjective

Etymology

Origin of seismic

First recorded in 1855–60; seism + -ic

Example Sentences

Woods’s contributions to the game of golf are seismic, but he doesn’t need to be reminded of that for a while.

From The Wall Street Journal

Previous studies based on seismic recordings suggested that earthquakes like this may involve a pulse-like rupture and slightly curved motion along the fault.

From Science Daily

Silicon Valley is reeling from the seismic verdict delivered by an LA jury on Wednesday.

From BBC

The 1933 Long Beach earthquake, magnitude 6.4, killed more than a hundred people, but it also made seismic safety a requirement throughout the state.

From Los Angeles Times

That meant that a No. 9 knocking off a No. 1 late on Sunday qualified as a seismic shock—to everyone except the coach who drew up the winning play.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• tectonic