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seismogram

seismogram

7.5
A record that shows how the ground moves during an earthquake
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪzməˌɡræm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sismograma
  • A clear seismogram showed the seismic waves generated by the recent tremor.
  • seismograms indicated the earthquakes

Examples

  • Local seismicity appears to be elevated, though reading the Popo seismogram is again hampered by a persisting software issue.

    Blog text (32)
  • The scientists studied the seismogram to understand the earthquake's intensity and duration.

  • So it's the Spectra of a seismogram as a function of time.

  • When a major earthquake occurs, the seismogram provides detailed information about the ground movements.

Surface Forms

seismogram singular
seismograms plural

Morphology

seismogram = seismograph (transparent) = seismo + gram

The relation to 'seismograph' (instrument) is recognizable, but the morphological change (‑graph -> ‑gram) is not a simple productive suffixation, so the immediate-base step is slightly nonstandard.

Etymology

Seismogram comes from seismo- meaning 'shake' or 'earthquake' and -gram meaning 'writing', like in telegram. So a seismogram is literally a 'written' record of how the ground moved during an earthquake, which is exactly what the instrument shows.