Richter scale

noun

Rich·​ter scale ˈrik-tər- 

: 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

Recent Examples on the Web

But when the topic turned to how his election could rattle the Hall’s Richter scale once his plaque hangs in that gallery in July, Suzuki couldn’t wrap his mind around that thought. —Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Parts of Northern California experienced the earth move on Monday from a 5.8 Richter scale reading that originated in Nevada, according to media reports. —Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Sez Me … New Jersey will have a 4.8 earthquake on the Les Richter scale before this happens. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024

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. —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

Word History

Etymology

Charles F. Richter

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Richter scale

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Kids Definition

Richter scale

noun

Rich·​ter scale ˈrik-tər- 

: a scale for expressing the strength of an earthquake