divergent plate boundary

[ dĭ-vûr′jənt ]

Save This Word!

A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth's surface between the two plates. The middle of the Red Sea and the mid-ocean ridge (running the length of the Atlantic Ocean) are divergent plate boundaries. Also called passive margin spreading zone See more at tectonic boundary. Compare convergent plate boundary.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Words nearby divergent plate boundary

diverge, divergence, divergence insufficiency, divergency, divergent, divergent plate boundary, divergent strabismus, divergent thinking, diverging lens, divers, diverse

How to use divergent plate boundary in a sentence

Using a heatproof slotted spoon, remove the shallots to a paper towel-lined plate.
Make Carla Hall’s Crispy Shallot Green Bean Casserole|Carla Hall|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Allow beans to cool completely then remove to a paper towel-lined plate to dry.
Make Carla Hall’s Crispy Shallot Green Bean Casserole|Carla Hall|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The young man had the presence of mind to tail Gaylard Williams out of the park and jot down his license plate.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chris Stein of Blondie catches Ramone with an “aw, shucks” expression just after he drops a plate of food.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings|Melissa Leon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In another case, a whole plate of uneaten food (including nuts, hummus and raisins) was pureed and inserted rectally.
‘Rectal Feeding’ Has Nothing to Do with Nutrition, Everything to Do with Torture|Russell Saunders|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well, the pudding moment arrived, and a huge slice almost obscured from sight the plate before us.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He conducts this ceremony with the greatest solemnity, occasionally pronouncing these incantatory words, "Plate or shell, sah?"
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
We sat down pell-mell, anywhere, I next to Liszt, who kept putting things on my plate.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
He silenced her with a gesture, and, leaving a piece of toast half-eaten on his plate, he got up and went into his study.
Uncanny Tales|Various
The prizes were plate, and the profits were to be expended in repairing the havens of the kingdom.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell