diatreme

American

[dahy-uh-treem] / ˈdaɪ əˌtrim /

noun

Geology.

a volcanic vent produced in a solid rock structure by the explosive energy of gases in magmas.

diatreme Scientific

/ dī′ə-trēm′ /

A volcanic pipe, filled with breccia, formed by a subterranean gaseous explosion.
See illustration at batholith

Etymology

Origin of diatreme

1930–35; dia- + Greek trêma hole

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

diatreme

Earlier geological surveys had interpreted the local breccia rocks as evidence of a funnel-shaped volcanic structure called a diatreme, which forms when explosive magma eruptions create a pipe filled with shattered rock.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023