fault-line
Earth's stress fracture
A fault-line is a fracture in the earth's crust where tectonic plates meet and shift, causing earthquakes.
The figurative use dominates: a fault-line is any deep division likely to cause conflict or rupture.
The debate exposed fault-lines within the party.
Economic inequality remains the country's major fault-line.
Also spelled faultline or fault line.
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
Richter · seismograph · rupture · shaking · liquefaction · tsunami · collapse · disaster
Separate into parts
- divisionSplitting into parts
- riftCrack or estrangement
- tensionStretched or strained state
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
conflict · schism · fracture · cleavage · split · wedge · discord · inequality
Narrow break or attempt
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
- creviceNarrow opening in surface
- splitSeparation into parts
- breakInterrupt continuity
rupture · cleave · rift · displacement · slippage · creep · strain · stress
Of crustal forces
- plateFlat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- crustHard outer layer
mantle · seismic · rift · convergence · divergence · transform · continental · oceanic
Formal boundary setting
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- borderOuter edge or limit
- interfaceShared connection point
transition · junction · separation · partition · margin · breaking point · flashpoint · trigger
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- quakeSeismic ground trembling
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · Richter · seismograph · rupture · shaking · liquefaction · tsunami · collapse · disaster · destruction
divide
Separate into parts
polarization · conflict · schism · fracture · cleavage · split · wedge · discord · inequality · class
crack
Narrow break or attempt
break · rupture · cleave · rift · displacement · slippage · creep · strain · stress · deformation
tectonic
Of crustal forces
- plateFlat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
crust · mantle · seismic · rift · convergence · divergence · transform · continental · oceanic · geology
demarcation
Formal boundary setting
interface · transition · junction · separation · partition · margin · breaking point · flashpoint · trigger · vulnerability
fault-linecommon ground
Points of agreement
consensus · bridge · solidarity · integration · harmony
fault, line, faults, faulted, faulting, faultless, faulty, faultily, lines