laccolith
a mass of igneous rock formed from magma that did not find its way to the surface but spread laterally into a lenticular body, forcing overlying strata to bulge upward.
Origin of laccolith
1- Also lac·co·lite [lak-uh-lahyt]. /ˈlæk əˌlaɪt/.
Other words from laccolith
- lac·co·lith·ic, lac·co·lit·ic [lak-uh-lit-ik], /ˌlæk əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use laccolith in a sentence
The intrusions, which are thick in comparison to their lateral extent, are known as laccoliths.
North America | Israel C. Russell
British Dictionary definitions for laccolith
laccolite (ˈlækəˌlaɪt)
/ (ˈlækəlɪθ) /
a dome-shaped body of igneous rock between two layers of older sedimentary rock: formed by the intrusion of magma, forcing the overlying strata into the shape of a dome: See lopolith
Origin of laccolith
1Derived forms of laccolith
- laccolithic or laccolitic (ˌlækəˈlɪtɪk), adjective
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
Scientific definitions for laccolith
[ lăk′ə-lĭth′ ]
A body of igneous rock intruded between layers of sedimentary rock, resulting in uplift. Laccoliths are usually plano-convex in cross-section, having a flat bottom and a convex top, and are roughly circular in plan. They are usually connected to a dike and are typically up to 8 km (5 mi) in diameter and tens to hundreds of meters thick. See illustration at batholith.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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