epeirogeny

Also e·pei·ro·gen·e·sis
Or ep·i·rog·e·ny

[ep-ahy-roj-uh-nee]

noun

Geology.

1. vertical or tilting movement of the earth's crust, generally affecting broad areas of a continent.

epeirogeny

/ ɪˌpaɪrəʊˈdʒɛnɪk, ˌɛpaɪˈrɒdʒɪnɪ, ɪˌpaɪrəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs, ɪˌpaɪrəʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk /

noun

1. Also called: epirogeny. the formation and submergence of continents by broad relatively slow displacements of the earth's crust

epeirogeny

1. Uplift or depression of the Earth's crust, affecting large areas of land or ocean bottom. Basins and plateaus are often formed as the result of epeirogeny. Epeirogeny differs from orogeny in that it affects larger regions of the Earth's crust and is not as frequently associated with folding and faulting of rocks.

Other Word Forms

• epeirogenic adjective
• epirogenic adjective
• epeirogenetic adjective
• epirogenetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epeirogeny¹

1885–90; < Greek ḗpeiro ( s ) mainland, continent + -geny

Word History and Origins

Origin of epeirogeny¹

C19: from Greek ēpeiros continent + _-geny