---
title: epicentre — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «epicentre» in the school dictionary: The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface right above where an earthquake starts underground. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epicentre/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [E](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/) / epicentre

# epicentre

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** epicentre, earthquake, Scientists, kitchen, city, shaking · **What happens:** be, start, damage, find, use · **To what, where:** point, surface, centre, small town, Houses, epicentre

<!-- .vabout -->
«epicentre» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [epicentre in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/epicentre.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface right above where an earthquake starts underground.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:m1:1
# text = The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface right above where an earthquake starts underground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	Earth	Earth	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	surface	surface	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obl	_	_
11	right	right	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
12	above	above	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	16	advmod	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	starts	start	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
17	underground	underground	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the epicentre | the point |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **start** | present | a earthquake |  |  | the Earth's surface |  | right, underground *property* | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epicentre of something is its centre, where it is strongest or busiest.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:m2:1
# text = The epicentre of something is its centre, where it is strongest or busiest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	nmod	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	where	where	ADV	WRB	PronType=Rel	12	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	strongest	strong	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	7	acl:relcl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	busiest	busy	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the epicentre of something | epicentre's centre |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | epicentre |  |  |  |  | strong *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | epicentre *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The epicentre of the earthquake was under a small town.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x1:1
# text = The epicentre of the earthquake was under a small town.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	earthquake	earthquake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
7	under	under	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the epicentre of the earthquake |  |  | a small town |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Houses near the epicentre were badly damaged.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x2:1
# text = Houses near the epicentre were badly damaged.
1	Houses	house	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	near	near	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
6	badly	badly	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	7	advmod	_	_
7	damaged	damage	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **damage** | past · passive |  | Houses near the epicentre |  |  |  | badly *property* | vn destroy-44 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists found the epicentre using readings from three places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x3:1
# text = Scientists found the epicentre using readings from three places.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	_
6	readings	reading	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | Scientists | the epicentre |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent epicentre=Topic |
| 2 | **use** | gerund | Scientists *not said here* | readings |  | three places |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reading=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our kitchen is the epicentre of family life.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x4:1
# text = Our kitchen is the epicentre of family life.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	family	family	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Our kitchen | the epicentre |  |  |  | of family life | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The city was the epicentre of the floods.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x5:1
# text = The city was the epicentre of the floods.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	floods	flood	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the city | the epicentre |  |  |  | of the floods | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The shaking was weaker far from the epicentre.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epicentre:x6:1
# text = The shaking was weaker far from the epicentre.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	shaking	shaking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	weaker	weak	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	0	root	_	_
5	far	far	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	epicentre	epicentre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the shaking |  |  |  |  | far, weak *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [epic](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epic/)
- next →: [epidemic](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/epidemic/)
- ↑ back to [E in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/)