fault line
Earth's stress fracture
A fault line is a fracture in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet and shift, often producing earthquakes.
The term extends to any deep division that threatens to rupture: The election exposed fault lines in American society.
Fault lines suggest tensions that may lie dormant but could suddenly give way.
Seismic ground movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · Richter · shockwave · rupture · slip · seismograph · seismology · liquefaction
Rigid crustal segment that drifts
- seismicRelating to ground tremors
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
- fractureSplit in hard material
- crustHard outer layer
subduction · transform · convergent · divergent · trench · San Andreas · mid-ocean ridge · plate boundary
Crack or estrangement
- breachBreaking of agreement
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- strainExcessive stretching force
conflict · disagreement · estrangement · breakdown · rupture · disconnect · schism · split
Narrow break or attempt
- fractureSplit in hard material
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
stress point · breaking point · strain · pressure point · defect · flaw · instability · liability
Splitting into parts
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- riftCrack or estrangement
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- divideSeparate into parts
tension · fracture · cleavage · discord · conflict · partisanship · alienation · disparity
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
epicenter · magnitude · Richter · shockwave · rupture · slip · seismograph · seismology · liquefaction · energy release
tectonic plate
Rigid crustal segment that drifts
crust · subduction · transform · convergent · divergent · trench · San Andreas · mid-ocean ridge · plate boundary · lithosphere
rift
Crack or estrangement
- breachBreaking of agreement
- tensionStretched or strained state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
strain · conflict · disagreement · estrangement · breakdown · rupture · disconnect · schism · split · divide
crack
Narrow break or attempt
vulnerability · stress point · breaking point · strain · pressure point · defect · flaw · instability · liability
division
Splitting into parts
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- riftCrack or estrangement
- schismFormal organizational fracture
divide · tension · fracture · cleavage · discord · conflict · partisanship · alienation · disparity · inequality
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- earth science referencesgeology, volcano, earthquake, fossil, mineral
- earthquakesearthquake, quake, earthquakes, quakes, epicenter
- geology termsfossils, rock layers, schist, core sample, gneiss
- seismologyearthquake, earthquakes, seismograph, seismicity, seismometer
- British geologychalk, flint, limestone, shale, sandstone
fault linecommon ground
Points of agreement
bond · consensus · social cohesion · bridge · shared values