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eruptive

[ih-ruhp-tiv]
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adjective
  1. bursting forth, or tending to burst forth.
  2. pertaining to or of the nature of an eruption.
  3. Geology. noting a rock formed by the eruption of molten material.
  4. Pathology. causing or accompanied by an eruption or rash.
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noun
  1. Geology. an eruptive rock.
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Origin of eruptive

From the French word éruptif, dating back to 1640–50. See erupt, -ive
Related formse·rup·tive·ly, adverbe·rup·tiv·i·ty, e·rup·tive·ness, nounnon·e·rup·tive, adjectivepost·e·rup·tive, adjectivepre·e·rup·tive, adjectivepre·e·rup·tive·ly, adverbun·e·rup·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

meteoricfrenziedstormytouchyhazardousuglyviolenttensefieryunstableuncontrollablewildchargedconsequentialebullientforcefulimpetuousoverwroughtperilousraging

Examples from the Web for eruptive

Historical Examples

  • She was delivered of a child on the 1st day of the eruptive stage.

    North American Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3, July, 1826

    Various

  • Rheumatic and eruptive fevers are more liable to induce abortion.

    Zoonomia, Vol. II

    Erasmus Darwin

  • The second class of prominences are best described as eruptive.

    The Story of the Heavens

    Robert Stawell Ball

  • Measles is the most widely prevalent, eruptive, contagious disease.

  • "Hell's red hole," came the visitor's eruptive outburst of amazement.

    The Roof Tree

    Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for eruptive

eruptive

adjective
  1. erupting or tending to erupt
  2. resembling or of the nature of an eruption
  3. (of rocks) formed from such products as ash and lava resulting from volcanic eruptions
  4. (of a disease) characterized by skin eruptions
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Derived Formseruptively, adverberuptivity or eruptiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for eruptive

adj.

1640s; see erupt + -ive. Perhaps from French éruptif.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper