epicentre

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɛpɪsɛntə/
(US epicenter)

noun

  • the point on the earth’s surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake.
  • the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation: the epicentre of labour militancy was the capital itself

Derivatives

epicentral

Pronunciation: /-ˈsɛntr(ə)l/
adjective

Origin:

late 19th century: from Greek epikentros 'situated on a centre', from epi 'upon' + kentron 'centre'