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ophiolite

American  
[of-ee-uh-lahyt, oh-fee-] / ˈɒf i əˌlaɪt, ˈoʊ fi- /

noun

Geology.

  1. an assemblage of mafic igneous rocks representing remnants of former oceanic crust.

Etymology

Origin of ophiolite

1840–50; < Greek óphi ( s ) snake + -o- + -lite; cf. ophite

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.

Pillow lavas, which only form underwater, from an ophiolite in the Apennine Mountains of central Italy.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

And if you’ve ever wanted to visit an ophiolite, congratulations!

From Scientific American • Mar. 7, 2012

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.