volcanic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, produced by, or characterized by the presence of volcanoes
a volcanic region
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suggestive of or resembling an erupting volcano
a volcanic era
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another word for extrusive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of volcanic
Explanation
If something is volcanic, it's violently explosive, like the volcanic eruption from a mountain or a two-year-old's volcanic temper tantrum after skipping his afternoon nap. Use this adjective to describe anything related to volcanoes, like volcanic ash and rock left behind after a volcanic eruption, or the volcanic activity picked up by a scientist's equipment. It's also a great way to talk about emotions that are (figuratively, at least) as volatile as a volcano. If your sister's mood is volcanic, you'll want to steer clear of her. The source of both volcanic and volcano is the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.
Vocabulary lists containing volcanic
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Pacific Islands - Middle School and High 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.
On a collection of islands known for their sweeping sandy beaches and rugged volcanic peaks, just four hours from Auckland, Ranasingha has been an involuntary guest.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
This does not establish that volcanic activity actually supplied that much atmospheric oxygen.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Soon, the highway cuts through miles of gray and white volcanic pumice and ash, creating a lunar-like landscape that manages to confuse the visual senses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Turkey's Cappadocia region, a magnet for tourists from around the world, is home to cone-shaped rock formations known as "fairy chimneys", created by ancient volcanic activity.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
The women’s art guild turned its hats toward the source of the volcanic sound.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
