shield volcano

American  

[sheeld vol-key-noh] / ˈʃild vɒlˌkeɪ noʊ /

noun

Geology.

1. a volcano formed entirely from accumulated flows of fluid lava, growing a few feet at a time and giving the volcano its broad, gently sloping profile.

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shield volcano British  

noun

1. a broad volcano built up from the repeated nonexplosive eruption of basalt to form a low dome or shield, usually having a large caldera at the summit

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shield volcano Scientific  

1. See under volcano

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Etymology

Origin of shield volcano

First recorded in 1910–15; translation of German Schildvulkan, from the resemblance of the volcano to an upturned circular shield

Example Sentences

The shield volcano responsible for the destruction was active just before and after the asteroid impact that drew the curtains on the Cretaceous, and both are thought to have contributed to the extinctions that followed.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

She attributed the increase to people wanting to watch the rivers of bright orange molten rock gush from Mauna Loa, a shield volcano whose name means “Long Mountain” in Hawaiian.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2022

Mauna Loa, whose name means “long mountain,” is known as a shield volcano because it is significantly wider than it is tall.

From Washington Post • Nov. 28, 2022

It spills down the flank of the ginormous shield volcano with an assortment of cascades and falls that make this hike scenic and special, especially on a hot summer day.

From Washington Times • Jun. 21, 2015

This is a high, craggy bit of a long and low shield volcano that contains one of the greatest obsidian flows ever.

From Scientific American • Dec. 6, 2012