12 Words to Learn Before Seeing Disaster Epic "San Andreas"

Before you head to the theaters for earthquake disaster movie "San Andreas" this weekend, add words from the film and from earthquake science to your vocabulary learning program.

(Sentence examples drawn from EW.com unless specified.)
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. seismic
    subject to or caused by an earthquake or earth vibration
    In the film, the infamous fault finally gives, causing a magnitude 9.0 seismic upheaval.
  2. tectonic
    pertaining to the structure or movement of the earth's crust
    The most powerful temblors in recorded history have struck along offshore subduction zones where one massive tectonic plate dives beneath another. Washington Times (May 23, 2015)
  3. epicenter
    a point on the Earth's surface directly above an earthquake
    The quake was felt in Las Vegas about 125 miles south of the epicenter. Washington Times (May 22, 2015)
  4. fault
    a crack in the earth's crust resulting from displacement
    From the boom and bust of the Gold Rush to a new population living on the fault lines, California's uncertainty is built into our lives. BBC (May 23, 2015)
  5. tsunami
    a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave
    Giant tsunami waves are formed when the Earth's crust violently shifts, displacing huge amounts of seawater. US News (May 23, 2015)
  6. magnitude
    the property of relative size or extent
    In the film, the infamous fault finally gives, causing a magnitude 9.0 seismic upheaval. That’s one big quake.
  7. mayhem
    violent and needless disturbance
    Peyton says there’s more to the film than just mayhem: “The movie is really about a family coming back together.
  8. upheaval
    a violent disturbance
    In the film, the infamous fault finally gives, causing a magnitude 9.0 seismic upheaval.
  9. earthquake
    vibration from underground movement along a fault plane
    ‘San Andreas is locked and loaded,’ ” says director Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island), referring to the real threat of a colossal California earthquake.
  10. colossal
    so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
    ‘San Andreas is locked and loaded,’ ” says director Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island), referring to the real threat of a colossal California earthquake.
  11. infamous
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    In the film, the infamous fault finally gives, causing a magnitude 9.0 seismic upheaval.
  12. catastrophe
    a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
    Following the catastrophe, a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) head from L.A. to San Francisco to save their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario).
Created on Wed May 27 13:23:56 EDT 2015 (updated Wed May 27 13:56:03 EDT 2015)

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