sima

[ sahy-muh ]

/ ˈsaɪ mə /

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noun Geology.

an assemblage of rocks, rich in silica and magnesium, that constitutes the lower layer of the earth's crust and is found beneath the ocean floors and the sial of continents.

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Origin of sima

<German (1909), equivalent to Latin si(licium) silicium + ma(gnesium) magnesium

OTHER WORDS FROM sima

si·mat·ic

[sahy-mat-ik], /saɪˈmæt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby sima

silvics, silviculture, s'il vous plaît, silymarin, sim., sima, Simak, Si-ma Qian, simar, simarouba, simaroubaceous

Other definitions for sima (2 of 2)

sima²

[ sahy-muh ]

/ ˈsaɪ mə /

noun Architecture.

the uppermost member of a full classical order, usually a cyma recta, representing a roof gutter; cymatium.

Origin of sima

Variant of cyma

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sima in a sentence

I know Sima Samar, the chair of the human-rights commission there.
Mary Robinson: Climate Change’s Gender Gap|Katie Baker|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But rather than showing any signs of slowing down, when asked about her personal source of energy, Sima had a ready answer.
Crisis Group and Hillary Clinton Honor Women in Pursuit of Peace|Swanee Hunt|December 18, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Let me tell you about Dr. Sima Samar, one of three reported “finalists.”
The Woman Who Should Have Won Obama's Nobel|Elaine Lafferty|October 12, 2009|DAILY BEAST
We tore past Tsu-sima, an island in the Corea strait, and laughingly cleared the run down to Nagasaki.
In Eastern Seas|J. J. Smith

But the little ship being minus several sheets of copper, we put in at the island of Tsu-sima to allow her effective repairs.
In Eastern Seas|J. J. Smith
Rabbana Ashi (born 352, died 427) was the son of Sima, and the descendant of an ancient family.
History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6)|Heinrich Graetz
The Batoko wife of Sima came up from the Falls, to welcome her husband back, bringing a present of the best fruits of the country.
A Popular Account of Dr. Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries|David Livingstone
Sima was the earlier name in the MS., but was erased by Linnus.
The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 4|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sima

sima

/ (ˈsaɪmə) /

noun

the silicon-rich and magnesium-rich rocks of the earth's oceanic crust, the most abundant individual rock being basalt

the earth's continental lower crust, probably comprised of gabbro rather than basalt

Derived forms of sima

simatic (saɪˈmætɪk), adjective

Word Origin for sima

C20: from si (lica) + ma (gnesia)

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