terrane

[ tuh-reyn, ter-eyn ]

noun

, Geology.

1. any rock formation or series of formations or the area in which a particular formation or group of rocks is predominant.

terrane

/ ˈtɛreɪn /

noun

1. a series of rock formations, esp one having a prevalent type of rock
2. an allochthonous, fault-bounded section of the earth's crust

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrane¹

First recorded in 1815–25; spelling variant of terrain

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrane¹

C19: see terrain

Example Sentences

The coffee terrane in my memory was about eighty feet square, laid with smooth slate, and slightly sloping.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clay
• coast
• dirt
• dust
• gravel
• land
• mud
• sand
• shore
• surface
• terrain
• turf