orogeny

[ aw-roj-uh-nee, oh-roj- ]

/ ɔˈrɒdʒ ə ni, oʊˈrɒdʒ- /

noun Geology.

the process of mountain making or upheaval.

Nearby words

Origin of orogeny

First recorded in 1885–90; oro-¹ + -geny

Also called or·o·gen·e·sis

[awr-uh-jen-uh-sis, or-uh-] /ˌɔr əˈdʒɛn ə sɪs, ˌɒr ə-/.

Related formsor·o·gen·ic

[awr-uh-jen-ik, or-uh-] /ˌɔr əˈdʒɛn ɪk, ˌɒr ə-/, or·o·ge·net·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for orogenesis

orogeny

orogenesis (ˌɒrəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs)

/ (ɒˈrɒdʒɪnɪ) /

noun

the formation of mountain ranges by intense upward displacement of the earth's crust, usually associated with folding, thrust faulting, and other compressional processes

Derived Formsorogenic (ˌɒrəʊˈdʒɛnɪk) or orogenetic (ˌɒrəʊdʒɪˈnɛtɪk), adjectiveorogenically or orogenetically, adverb

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 orogenesis

orogeny

"mountain forming," 1890, from French orogénie; see oro- + -geny. Related: Orogenic.

Science definitions for orogenesis

orogeny

[ ô-rŏj′ə-nē ]

The process of mountain formation, especially by folding and faulting of the Earth's crust and by plastic folding, metamorphism, and the intrusion of magmas in the lower parts of the lithosphere. Unlike epeirogeny, orogeny usually affects smaller regions and is associated with evidence of folding and faulting. The long chains of mountains often seen on the edges of continents form through orogeny.