tufa

American  

[too-fuh, tyoo-] / ˈtu fə, ˈtju- /

noun

Geology.

1. Also called calcareous tufa, calc-tufa.  Also called calc-tuff.  a porous limestone formed from calcium carbonate deposited by springs or the like.

2. (not in technical use) tuff 2 .

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tufa British  

/ ˈtjuːfə /

noun

1. Also called: calc-tufa.  a soft porous rock consisting of calcium carbonate deposited from springs rich in lime

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tufa Scientific  

/ to̅o̅′fə /

1. A soft, friable, and porous sedimentary rock consisting of calcium carbonate and formed by the evaporation of water, especially at the mouth of a hot spring or on a drying lakebed. It is similar to, but harder than, travertine.

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Other Word Forms

• tufaceous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tufa

1760–70; < Italian tufo < Latin tōfus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tufa

But today, just to stand beside the small tufa niche where a Jewish child was laid to rest 2,000 years ago feels like a kind of prayer.

From New York Times ● May 1, 2023

A close look at the rock reveals coral-like tufa deposits left by that phantom lake.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2022

The eerie tufa towers and migratory birds of Mono Lake.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2022

Italian white varieties such as greco di tufa, fiano and roero d’arneis would work here, too.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 30, 2021

The lower prison, called Robur, is constructed of huge blocks of tufa, fastened together by cramps of iron and approaching horizontally to a common centre in the roof.

From Walks in Rome by Augustus J. C. Hare