unconformable
Americanadjective
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not conformable; not conforming.
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Geology. indicating discontinuity of any type in a stratigraphic sequence.
adjective
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not conformable or conforming
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(of rock strata) consisting of a series of younger strata that do not succeed the underlying older rocks in age or in parallel position, as a result of a long period of erosion or nondeposition
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unconformable
First recorded in 1585–95; un- 1 + conformable
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’m always going to talk about what makes people unconformable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2025
It is critical at a time of public health crisis to be aware of the line between panic and preparation, to speak tough and unconformable truths without being alarmist.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 9, 2020
These anomalous appearances may partly be explained by supposing great solid wedges of intrusive gneiss to have been forced in laterally between strata to which I found them to be in many sections unconformable.
From The Student's Elements of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
It often happens that in the interval between the deposition of two sets of unconformable strata, the inferior rock has not only been denuded, but drilled by perforating shells.
From The Student's Elements of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
Inferences derived from unconformable strata.—That the subterranean forces have visited different parts of the globe at successive periods, is inferred chiefly from the unconformability of strata belonging to groups of different ages.
From Principles of Geology or, The Modern Changes of the Earth and its Inhabitants Considered as Illustrative of Geology by Sir Charles Lyell
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.
