Dictionary.com
definitions

tectonic plates

[ (tek-ton-ik) ]

The dozen or so plates that make up the surface of the Earth. Their motion is studied in the field of plate tectonics.

RELATED CONTENT

Discover The Origins Of These Cooking Tool NamesRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
NoelFind new words to share every day with Dictionary.com's Word of the Day. Discover the definition, pronunciation, and origin of uncommon words plus more!
READ MORE

Nearby words

  1. tectibranch,
  2. tectiform,
  3. tectonic,
  4. tectonic boundary,
  5. tectonic keratoplasty,
  6. tectonics,
  7. tectonism,
  8. tectorial,
  9. tectorial membrane,
  10. tectorial membrane of cochlear duct

Note

The plates are not the same as the continents. The North American plate, for example, extends from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of the United States and Canada. These plates are about thirty miles thick.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.