transform fault

American  

[trans-fawrm fawlt] / ˈtræns fɔrm ˌfɔlt /

noun

Geology, Oceanography.

1. a strike-slip fault that offsets a mid-ocean ridge in opposing directions on either side of the axis of seafloor spreading.

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transform fault Scientific  

/ trăns′fôrm′ /

1. A type of strike-slip fault that accommodates the relative horizontal slip between other tectonic elements, such as tectonic plates, and is common along the edges of plates in mid-ocean ridge regions. The lateral displacement along transform faults often ends or changes form abruptly.

2. See Note at fault

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Etymology

Origin of transform fault

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transform fault

Carn said a dramatic escalation appears unlikely because the eruption is associated with a volcanic ridge near the intersection of a transform fault and a back arc spreading center.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

Together, they focused on the Gofar transform fault, located along the East Pacific Rise off Ecuador's western coast, in an effort to solve a decades-long mystery surrounding these repeating underwater earthquakes.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2026

He described the nature of the motion along them, and showed why there are earthquakes only on the section of a transform fault between two adjacent ridge segments.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015