volcanic

[vol-kan-ik]

adjective

of or relating to a volcano: a volcanic eruption.
discharged from or produced by volcanoes: volcanic mud.
characterized by the presence of volcanoes: a volcanic area.

suggestive of or resembling a volcano; potentially explosive; volatile: a volcanic temper.

Origin of volcanic

1765–75; volcan(o) + -ic; compare French volcanique

Related formsvol·can·i·cal·ly, adverbvol·can·ic·i·ty

[vol-kuh-nis-i-tee] /ˌvɒl kəˈnɪs ɪ ti/, nounnon·vol·can·ic, adjectivesem·i·vol·can·ic, adjectivesem·i·vol·can·i·cal·ly, adverbun·vol·can·ic, adjectiveun·vol·can·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for volcanicity

volcanic

adjective

of, relating to, produced by, or characterized by the presence of volcanoesa volcanic region
suggestive of or resembling an erupting volcanoa volcanic era
another word for extrusive (def. 2)

Derived Formsvolcanically, adverbvolcanicity (ˌvɒlkəˈnɪsɪtɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for volcanicity

volcanic

adj.

1774, from French volcanique (see volcano). Figurative sense of "prone to explosive activity" is attested from 1854.