downthrow
Americannoun
noun
-
the state of throwing down or being thrown down
-
geology the sinking of rocks on one side of a fault plane
Etymology
Origin of downthrow
First recorded in 1605–15; noun use of verb phrase throw down
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.
I hold a beast, an angel and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their subjugation and victory, downthrow and upheaval .
From Time Magazine Archive
A fault of recent date may be marked at surface by a scarp, because the face of the upthrown block has not yet been worn to the level of the downthrow side.
From The Elements of Geology by Norton, William Harmon
A normal fault with a hade of 50 degrees, the original fault scarp worn away, showing cliffs caused by harder strata on the downthrow side.
From The Elements of Geology by Norton, William Harmon
Under what circumstances should we term a fault a downthrow? and when should we term it an upcast?
From Geology by Geikie, James
The escarpments, however, are due in a large degree to the erosion of weaker rock on the downthrow side.
From The Elements of Geology by Norton, William Harmon
Definitions 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.
