ophiolite

American

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

noun

Geology.

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

Etymology

Origin of ophiolite

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

Geologists have long theorized that outcroppings in the area contain ophiolite fragments — parts of oceanic crust and the underlying layer of rocks known as the mantle that have been propelled onto land.

From Washington Post

The ocean that produced the Baltimore ophiolite fragments is the long-gone Iapetus, named for the mythical father of Atlas.

From Washington Post

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

From Scientific American

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023