geology
Americannoun
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the science that deals with the dynamics and physical history of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that the earth has undergone or is undergoing.
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the study of this science.
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the geologic features and processes occurring in a given region on the earth or on a celestial body.
the geology of Mars; the geology of eastern Kentucky.
noun
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the scientific study of the origin, history, structure, and composition of the earth
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the geological features of a district or country
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The scientific study of the origin of the Earth along with its rocks, minerals, land forms, and life forms, and of the processes that have affected them over the course of the Earth's history.
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The structure of a specific region of the Earth, including its rocks, soils, mountains, fossils, and other features.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of geology
Explanation
Geology is the study of the Earth and what it's made of, including its natural history. Just as biology is the study of earth's life forms, geology is the study of the earth itself. Geology tells us where lakes once were, where volcanoes erupted, where glaciers pushed up mountains and then melted. Geologists — people who study geology — tell us where to find oil, coal and diamonds and then they explain how they got there. If you find the natural world beautiful and interesting, you might enjoy studying geology.
Vocabulary lists containing geology
Power Suffix: -ology
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Elements of the Universe: Geo ("Earth")
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Earth Science - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A hypothetical magnitude 7 earthquake near Las Vegas could cause about $21 billion in damage, ripping through vulnerable buildings and infrastructure, according to the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
Katie Smye, a researcher at the Bureau of Economic Geology, said there are areas of the Permian where injecting wastewater can be done safely and the industry must put more work into delineating these zones.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
"Even now, scientists are running new models to try to refine initial forecasts," Chris Goldfinger, Professor of Marine Geology at Oregon State University told BBC Breakfast.
From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025
Seismologists have noted that there are at least 30 faults that could cause damage in the Reno-Carson City corridor, according to the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2024
Geology: nothing about geomorphology or stratigraphy or even petrology.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
