Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SEISMIC

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explore the archives: Something seismic reminds you of an earthquake: it's disruptive, and afterward, nothing will ever be the same. Another geological word we've checked out is g______y: either the literal force that pulls on objects, or any feeling or manner of heaviness, seriousness, or solemn importance. Can you recall it? And here's a geological word so dramatic (and pedantic) that it's best to use it only as a joke. Ves____n things are so violent or powerful that they remind you of the volcano that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79. make your point with... "SEISMIC" This word comes from the Greek for "a shaking" or "an earthquake." Literally seismic things are related to earthquakes. Figuratively seismic things remind you of an earthquake (or remind you of the effects of an earthquake) because they're violent and/or disruptive, and they have major effects. Pronunciation: SIZE mick Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a seismic thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was seismic.") Other forms: The adverb is "seismically." There's not a noun form that we use figuratively. You can talk about "seismism" and "seismicity," but these words always relate to literal earthquakes. How to use it: We'll focus on figurative usage. Talk about seismic choices and decisions; seismic changes and shifts; seismic events and news; seismic shocks and rumbles and disruptions; seismic effects, results, and repercussions; seismic failures, successes, defeats, and victories; seismic areas and zones; and seismic moments, days, nights, and longer periods of time. Or, say that something has seismic proportions or that something would be a seismic prospect. Seismic things don't have to be destructive--they can simply be vast, major, important, etc. Sometimes we even use "seismic" to describe purely positive things: "we made a seismic breakthrough," "the team made seismic improvements." Seismic things tend to happen on a huge scale: political changes, for example, are often called seismic. But seismic things (like changes, shifts, and upheavals) can certainly happen within your own relationships and within your own life or mind. Notice how "seismic" usually describes things. But you might also use it for people: seismic thinkers, seismic movers and shakers, seismic reformers. examples: After their seismic shift away from consumption and ownership, the family was relieved to find themselves feeling lighter and freer. Their sudden breakup right before Valentine's Day came to him as a seismic shock. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "seismic" means when you can explain it without saying "earth-shattering" or "like an earthquake." try it out: Think of a time things really got shaken up. Fill in the blanks: "In a seismic (change, shift, or upheaval), (something happened)." Example: "In a seismic change, students in high school and even middle school now are working to develop a much sharper view of politics." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "What's the Difference?" I’ll give you two terms. Without using Google or a dictionary, explain how they’re different. Go beyond saying, "well, I know the difference, but I can’t explain it," or "show me an example and I'll tell you which it is." In your explanations, try to focus on features, not comparisons. For example, what's the difference between climate and weather? A good explanation focuses on features: "climate is what’s going on in the atmosphere over long periods of time, and weather is what’s going on in the atmosphere at a particular place and time." A weaker explanation focuses on comparisons: "climate is more concerning than weather." The game will get harder as the month goes on: we’ll start with objects—natural first, then man-made—then switch to concepts. Let’s do this! From yesterday: What's the difference between cooking and baking? Answer: Cooking is preparing food using heat. Baking is a type of cooking: it’s using dry heat to cook things. Try this today: What's the difference between "lethal" and "fatal"? review today's word: 1. One opposite of SEISMIC is A. AGRARIAN B. INSIGNIFICANT C. UBIQUITOUS 2. Employees are still struggling to find their _____ after the company's seismic _____. A. login information  .. downtime  B. voices .. ad campaign C. footing .. restructuring Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C