thermal vent

American  

noun

• thermal vents
  plural

1. Geology, Oceanography. an opening in the Earth, especially on the floor of the sea, from which hot, mineral-rich solutions are released.

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thermal vent Scientific  

1. An opening in the Earth, especially on the ocean floor, that emits hot water and dissolved minerals.

2. See more at hydrothermal vent

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• thermal vents
  plural