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the Richter scale

noun [S]
 
 
/ˈrɪk.tə.skeɪl/ US  /-t̬ɚ-/

Definition

a system used to measure the strength of an earthquake: The earthquake in Mexico City registered 7.1 on the Richter scale.Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
(Definition of the Richter scale noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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