diastrophism

[dahy-as-truh-fiz-uhm]

noun

Geology.

1. Also called tectonism. the action of the forces that cause the earth's crust to be deformed, producing continents, mountains, changes of level, etc.

2. any such resulting deformation.

diastrophism

/ daɪˈæstrəˌfɪzəm, ˌdaɪəˈstrɒfɪk /

noun

1. the process of movement and deformation of the earth's crust that gives rise to large-scale features such as continents, ocean basins, and mountains See also orogeny epeirogeny

Other Word Forms

• diastrophic adjective
• diastrophically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of diastrophism¹

1880–85; < Greek diastroph ( ḗ ) a distortion ( dia-, strophe ) + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of diastrophism¹

C19: from Greek diastrophē a twisting; see _dia- , _strophe

Example Sentences

Role of diastrophism in topography of Corpus Christi area, south Texas.

From Project Gutenberg