volcano

American  

[vol-key-noh] / vɒlˈkeɪ noʊ /

noun

volcanoes, plural volcanos plural

1. a vent in the earth's crust through which lava, steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either continuously or at irregular intervals.

2. a mountain or hill, usually having a cuplike crater at the summit, formed around such a vent from the ash and lava expelled through it.

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volcano British  

/ vɒlˈkeɪnəʊ /

noun

1. an opening in the earth's crust from which molten lava, rock fragments, ashes, dust, and gases are ejected from below the earth's surface

2. a mountain formed from volcanic material ejected from a vent in a central crater

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volcano Scientific  

/ vŏl-kā′nō /

1. An opening in the Earth's crust from which lava, ash, and hot gases flow or are ejected during an eruption.

2. A usually cone-shaped mountain formed by the materials issuing from such an opening. Volcanoes are usually associated with plate boundaries but can also occur within the interior areas of a tectonic plate. Their shape is directly related to the type of magma that flows from them—the more viscous the magma, the steeper the sides of the volcano.

3. ◆ A volcano composed of gently sloping sheets of basaltic lava from successive volcanic eruptions is called a shield volcano. The lava flows associated with shield volcanos, such as Mauna Loa, on Hawaii, are very fluid.

4. ◆ A volcano composed of steep, alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic materials, including ash, is called a stratovolcano. Stratovolcanos are associated with relatively viscous lava and with explosive eruptions. They are the most common form of large continental volcanos. Mount Vesuvius, Mount Fuji, and Mount St. Helens are stratovolcanos.

5. Also called composite volcano

6. See more at hot spot island arc tectonic boundary volcanic arc

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volcano Cultural  

1. A cone-shaped mountain or hill created by molten material that rises from the interior of the Earth to the surface.

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Discover More

Volcanoes tend to occur along the edges of tectonic plates.

Eruptions and lava flows associated with them can be very destructive. (See Mount Saint Helens and Mount Vesuvius.)

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• volcanoes
  plural
• volcanos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of volcano

1605–15; < Italian < Latin Volcānus, variant of Vulcānus Vulcan

Explanation

When the earth's crust cracks open and spews hot lava and gases, you've got a volcano on your hands. You better run. The noun volcano comes from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. The Romans believed Vulcan had a forge in Mt. Etna, a volcano in Italy. The term can be applied to a vent in a planet's surface or crust. Lava, ash, and gas escape through the vent. The term volcano can also apply to a mountain created by such a vent.

Example Sentences

Dominated by the imposing Colima Volcano complex and home to the critical industrial port of Manzanillo, Colima is Mexico’s smallest state by population, with only about 731,000 people.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

The conservation project became possible after scientists discovered tortoises carrying Floreana ancestry on Wolf Volcano on Isabela island in 2008.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

“This kind of event happens probably once or twice a year in Yellowstone,” said Michael Poland, the scientist-in-charge at USGS’s Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, “often in the backcountry where it will go unnoticed.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2024

The event was so profound that May has been designated Volcano Preparedness Month to educate residents about Mount St. Helens and Washington’s four other active volcanoes.

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2024

She told no one, but concocted a ‘thrilling tale’, and boldly carried it herself to Mr. Dashwood, editor of the Weekly Volcano.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Related Words

• alp
• bluff
• butte
• cliff
• crag
• elevation
• eminence
• height
• mesa
• mount
• palisade
• peak
• pike
• precipice
• range
• ridge
• sierra
• tor