: an open-ended logarithmic scale for expressing the magnitude of a seismic disturbance (such as an earthquake) in terms of the energy dissipated in it with 1.5 indicating the smallest earthquake that can be felt, 4.5 an earthquake causing slight damage, and 8.5 a very devastating earthquake
Examples of Richter scale in a Sentence
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Sizable earthquakes have happened in places like Mineral, Virginia, where on August 23, 2011, millions of people across the nation felt some unexpected shake in the form of a 5.8 Richter scale.
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Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
In the world of gravitational wave research – in which impossibly huge detection devices (more on that in a bit) are used to track celestial events in the way Richter scales track earthquakes – Cal State Fullerton is a legitimately big player.
—Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
Typically, an earthquake needs to score a 2.0-2.5 on a Richter scale to be felt by people.
—Sven Karabegovic, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
Barring the unexpected, the outcome is not likely to register high on the political Richter scale.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2022
After 99 yards and a Gators touchdown, The Swamp was shaking at Richter scale levels from the pure noise of it all.
—Cecil Hurt, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2021
The Mavs probably will make a deal before the March 25 trade deadline, but don’t expect any of them to set off Richter scale.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2021
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Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
In the world of gravitational wave research – in which impossibly huge detection devices (more on that in a bit) are used to track celestial events in the way Richter scales track earthquakes – Cal State Fullerton is a legitimately big player.
—Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
Typically, an earthquake needs to score a 2.0-2.5 on a Richter scale to be felt by people.
—Sven Karabegovic, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Sep. 2023
Barring the unexpected, the outcome is not likely to register high on the political Richter scale.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2022
After 99 yards and a Gators touchdown, The Swamp was shaking at Richter scale levels from the pure noise of it all.
—Cecil Hurt, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2021
The Mavs probably will make a deal before the March 25 trade deadline, but don’t expect any of them to set off Richter scale.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 5 Mar. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near Richter scale
Cite this Entry
“Richter scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Richter%20scale. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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Richter scale
noun
Rich·ter scale
ˈrik-tər- 
: a scale for expressing the strength of an earthquake
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