tectonic

American  

[tek-ton-ik] / tɛkˈtɒn ɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to building or construction; constructive; architectural.

2. Geology.

   1. pertaining to the structure of the earth's crust.

   2. referring to the forces or conditions within the earth that cause movements of the crust.

   3. designating the results of such movements.

      tectonic valleys.

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tectonic British  

/ tɛkˈtɒnɪk /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to construction or building

2. geology

   1. (of landforms, rock masses, etc) resulting from distortion of the earth's crust due to forces within it

   2. (of processes, movements, etc) occurring within the earth's crust and causing structural deformation

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tectonic Scientific  

/ tĕk-tŏn′ĭk /

1. Relating to the forces involved in plate tectonics or the structural features resulting from them.

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Other Word Forms

• tectonically adverb

Etymology

Origin of tectonic

1650–60; < Late Latin tectonicus < Greek tektonikós pertaining to construction, equivalent to tekton- (stem of téktōn ) carpenter + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

The decision was a tectonic shift, a clear indication that change is here and inescapable.

From Salon

He said "the old order isn't coming back," adding: "The tectonic plates have shifted. There is profound change".

From BBC

"If we don't understand the underlying tectonic processes, it's hard to predict the seismic hazard," said coauthor Amanda Thomas, professor of earth and planetary sciences at UC Davis.

From Science Daily

But precious metals are in the headlines now, he added, and there are possible “tectonic” shifts afoot.

From MarketWatch

Megathrust earthquakes typically occur relatively close to the Earth's surface, where tectonic plates collide.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• anatomical
• architectural
• basic
• constitutional
• skeletal