ground-zero
Where impact hits
Ground zero is the point on the earth's surface directly above or below a nuclear explosion—the center of total destruction.
After the September 11 attacks, Ground Zero became the name for the World Trade Center site in New York.
The phrase now applies figuratively to any starting point or epicenter: ground zero of the epidemic, ground zero for the tech industry.
Earthquake's underground origin point
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- destructionAct of completely ruining
annihilation · obliteration · devastation · rubble · wreckage · ruins · flattened · razed
Standard for comparison
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- beginningInitial stage of something
- inceptionFounding moment
- genesisPoint of creation
source · launch · outset · birthplace · cradle · roots · core · nucleus
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
Oppenheimer · kiloton · contamination · half-life · radioactivity · survivors
2001 terrorist attacks
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- tributeOffering of respect
- monumentStructure honoring someone remembered
- victimsThose who suffer harm
heroes · survivors · anniversary · reflection · sacred · sanctuary · mourning · resilience
hypocenter
Earthquake's underground origin point
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
destruction · annihilation · obliteration · devastation · rubble · wreckage · ruins · flattened · razed · vaporized
baseline
Standard for comparison
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- beginningInitial stage of something
- inceptionFounding moment
genesis · source · launch · outset · birthplace · cradle · roots · core · nucleus · center
Hiroshima
First nuclear-struck city
- NagasakiSecond city bombed atomically
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
fission · Oppenheimer · kiloton · contamination · half-life · radioactivity · survivors
9/11
2001 terrorist attacks
- remembranceAct of holding something in mind
- tributeOffering of respect
- monumentStructure honoring someone remembered
victims · heroes · survivors · anniversary · reflection · sacred · sanctuary · mourning · resilience · unity
ground-zeroperiphery
Boundary or outer region
outskirts · fringe · edge · margins · outer limits
ground-zerosafe zone
Protected area from threats
shelter · haven · refuge · safety · protected area
ground-zerofinish line
Race completion marker
completion · culmination · endpoint · fruition · fulfillment
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