mainshock

English - English

Definition of mainshock in English English dictionary

The maximum shock in an earthquake event. Sometimes preceded by foreshocks and followed by aftershocks which are of lesser intensity

The largest in a series of earthquakes occurring closely in time and space The mainshock may be preceded by foreshocks or followed by aftershocks

The largest earthquake in any series of earthquakes; to be definitively called a "mainshock", it should generally be at least half a magnitude unit larger than the next largest quake in the series Otherwise, the series of quakes may more accurately fit the definition of a swarm

The largest earthquake in a sequence, sometimes preceded by one or more foreshocks, and almost always followed by many aftershocks