Meaning & use
Richter scale
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Meanings
nounsingular
A numbered scale used to measure how much energy an earthquake releases, where each whole step up means a much stronger quake.
Grammar: Used with the: the Richter scale; often followed by a number: 6.2 on the Richter scale.
Patterns
- measure something on the Richter scale
- a magnitude of X on the Richter scale
The earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale.
Few people feel a tremor below 3 on the Richter scale.
The Richter scale rises in steps, so a 7 is far stronger than a 6.
nounsingularfigurativehumorous
Any way of judging how strong or severe something is, used humorously when a reaction is very large.
Grammar: Used with the, mostly in a joking figure of speech: off the Richter scale.
Patterns
- off the Richter scale
The noise from the crowd was off the Richter scale.
Her anger registered high on the Richter scale.
Common combinations
- measure on the Richter scale
- The quake was measured on the Richter scale at 5.4.
- register on the Richter scale
- The tremor registered 4.8 on the Richter scale.
- magnitude on the Richter scale
- A magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale would be devastating.
- off the Richter scale
- His excitement was off the Richter scale.
- a high reading on the Richter scale
- The city has never recorded a high reading on the Richter scale.
Synonyms and how they differ
- magnitude scale
- A magnitude scale is the general term for any system rating quake size, while the Richter scale is one particular older system.
- moment magnitude scale
- The moment magnitude scale is the modern method scientists prefer, and it stays accurate for very large quakes where the Richter scale does not.
Word family
- Richter proper noun
- The surname of the American scientist Charles Richter, who created the scale.
Commonly confused: Richter scale or Mercalli scale?
Richter scale vs Mercalli scale
The Mercalli scale describes the effects of a quake on people and buildings, while the Richter scale measures the energy released.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
We say 'on' the Richter scale, as with other scales. The other prepositions are not used for reading a value on a scale.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Richter scale”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.