quaquaversal

American  

[kwey-kwuh-vur-suhl] / ˌkweɪ kwəˈvɜr səl /

adjective

1. (of a geological formation) sloping downward from the center in all directions.

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quaquaversal British  

/ ˌkwɑːkwəˈvɜːsəl /

adjective

1. geology directed outwards in all directions from a common centre

   the quaquaversal dip of a pericline

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• quaquaversally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of quaquaversal

First recorded in 1690–1710; from Latin quāquā vers(us) literally, “wheresoever turned, turned everywhere” ( see origin at verse ¹ ( def. )) + -al ¹

Explanation

In geometry and geology, quaquaversal describes something that slopes or extends outward in all directions from a central point. A splash fountain spraying water outward in every direction from its center is quaquaversal. Geologists use quaquaversal to describe natural domes or mountain peaks. The word is derived from the Latin quaqua, meaning "in every direction," and versus, meaning "turned." Imagine standing atop a dome-shaped mountain: No matter what direction you turn, the land slopes away from you. While this specialized term is mostly used to describe geologic features, a writer might describe a quaquaversal arrangement of roads radiating from a city center. An architect might refer to quaquaversal features of a building.