Main Entry: epi·cen·ter

Pronunciation: \ˈe-pi-ˌsen-tər\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin epicentrum, from epi- + Latin centrum center

Date: 1887

1 : the part of the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake — compare hypocenter 1
2 : center 2a, b, c <the epicenter of world finance>

— epi·cen·tral \ˌe-pi-ˈsen-trəl\ adjective