Plinian

British  

/ ˈplɪnɪən /

adjective

1. geology (of a volcanic eruption) characterized by repeated explosions

---

Etymology

Origin of Plinian

C20: named after _Pliny the Younger, who described such eruptions

Example Sentences

A 550-year-old Plinian eruption at El Chichón Volcano, Chiapas, Mexico: explosive volcanism linked to reheating of the magma reservoir.

From Nature • Dec. 12, 2017

The mountain is at Alert Level 2: A full-scale Plinian eruption may be unlikely, but smaller events would be very hard to predict.

From Slate • Feb. 29, 2012

While at Edinburgh, Darwin was a member of the Plinian Society, and read a couple of papers on some observations in natural history.

From Beacon Lights of History, Volume 14 The New Era; A Supplementary Volume, by Recent Writers, as Set Forth in the Preface and Table of Contents by Lord, John

While in Edinburgh, Charles became deeply interested in marine zoölogy, and read a paper before the Plinian Society, an association organized for the study of natural history.

From Famous Men of Science by Bolton, Sarah K.

Read two papers before the Plinian Society of Edinburgh "at the close of 1826 or early in 1827."

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1 by Darwin, Francis, Sir