Definition

The point on the Earth's surface that is directly below the center of an explosion or earthquake.

Example

The hypocenter of the earthquake was located deep underground.

Conversation

Did you know the hypocenter is the point directly beneath where an earthquake starts?

Yeah, I read that it can really help scientists understand how strong it was.

Exactly! It's fascinating how much they can learn from the hypocenter location.

Right? It’s amazing how they can predict future earthquakes too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypocenter → It is formed from "hypo-" (meaning under or below) and "kenter" (from Greek "kentron", meaning center). The word "hypocenter" refers to the point beneath the earth's surface where an earthquake originates, thus indicating a location that is below the center of the seismic activity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'hypo-' meaning 'under' and 'center' as the main point — the hypocenter is the point that lies under the center of an earthquake.

Visually Confused Words