noun
Richter
RIHKT-uh
noun
1
Used (followed by a number) to state the magnitude of an earthquake on the Richter scale.
"The tremor measured 4.2 on the Richter scale."
How to Use Richter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe scale used to describe how strong an earthquake is.
Common mistake
Seismologists now generally use the moment magnitude scale instead, but "Richter scale" is still the term most people use in everyday speech.
Common pairings
Richter scale
measured on the Richter scale
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The tremor measured 4.2 on the _____ scale.
Etymology
Named after American seismologist Charles F. Richter, who co-developed the scale in the 1930s.