scoria

[ skawr-ee-uh, skohr- ]

noun

, plural sco·ri·ae [skawr, -ee-ee, skohr, -].

1. Metallurgy. the refuse, dross, or slag left after melting or smelting metal; scum.
2. Geology. a cinderlike basic cellular lava.

scoria

/ ˈskɔːrɪə; ˌskɔːrɪˈeɪʃəs /

noun

1. a rough cindery crust on top of solidified lava flows containing numerous vesicles
2. refuse obtained from smelted ore; slag

scoria

/ skôr′ē-ə /

, Plural scoriae skôr′ē-ē′

1. Rough, crusty, solidified lava containing numerous vesicles that originated as gas bubbles in the lava while it was still molten.

Derived Forms

• scoriaceous, adjective

Other Words From

• sco·ri·a·ceous [skawr-ee-, ey, -sh, uh, s, skohr-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoria¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin scōria < Greek skōría, derivative of skôr dung

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoria¹

C17: from Latin: dross, from Greek skōria, from skōr excrement

Example Sentences

These buildings are of the dark grey scoria, almost imperishable I suppose, and look very well.

From Project Gutenberg

We passed through a lane of black scoria, with steep banks on both sides.

From Project Gutenberg

At one of these about one-third of the lip of the crater still existed, having on it a quantity of reddish scoria.

From Project Gutenberg

Wherever there was good iron in any of the Roman provinces, veritable mountains of scoria are found.

From Project Gutenberg

Tolouse calculated that similar heaps in Gaul contained over 120,000 tons of scoria.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basalt
• magma
• slag