volcano
Americannoun
-
a vent in the earth's crust through which lava, steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either continuously or at irregular intervals.
-
a mountain or hill, usually having a cuplike crater at the summit, formed around such a vent from the ash and lava expelled through it.
noun
-
an opening in the earth's crust from which molten lava, rock fragments, ashes, dust, and gases are ejected from below the earth's surface
-
a mountain formed from volcanic material ejected from a vent in a central crater
-
An opening in the Earth's crust from which lava, ash, and hot gases flow or are ejected during an eruption.
-
A usually cone-shaped mountain formed by the materials issuing from such an opening. Volcanoes are usually associated with plate boundaries but can also occur within the interior areas of a tectonic plate. Their shape is directly related to the type of magma that flows from them—the more viscous the magma, the steeper the sides of the volcano.
-
◆ A volcano composed of gently sloping sheets of basaltic lava from successive volcanic eruptions is called a shield volcano. The lava flows associated with shield volcanos, such as Mauna Loa, on Hawaii, are very fluid.
-
◆ A volcano composed of steep, alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic materials, including ash, is called a stratovolcano. Stratovolcanos are associated with relatively viscous lava and with explosive eruptions. They are the most common form of large continental volcanos. Mount Vesuvius, Mount Fuji, and Mount St. Helens are stratovolcanos.
-
Also called composite volcano
-
See more at hot spot island arc tectonic boundary volcanic arc
Discover More
Volcanoes tend to occur along the edges of tectonic plates.
Eruptions and lava flows associated with them can be very destructive. (See Mount Saint Helens and Mount Vesuvius.)
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of volcano
1605–15; < Italian < Latin Volcānus, variant of Vulcānus Vulcan
Explanation
When the earth's crust cracks open and spews hot lava and gases, you've got a volcano on your hands. You better run. The noun volcano comes from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. The Romans believed Vulcan had a forge in Mt. Etna, a volcano in Italy. The term can be applied to a vent in a planet's surface or crust. Lava, ash, and gas escape through the vent. The term volcano can also apply to a mountain created by such a vent.
Vocabulary lists containing volcano
Physical Geography - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Physical Geography - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The United States
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dominated by the imposing Colima Volcano complex and home to the critical industrial port of Manzanillo, Colima is Mexico’s smallest state by population, with only about 731,000 people.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
The Volcano Discovery website said it had received more than 1,000 reports about the earthquake, with some as far away as Blackpool.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
La Mirada 72, Volcano Vista 69: It took two overtimes before La Mirada claimed victory.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2025
An Oregon helicopter company airlifted rescuers with the Washington-based Volcano Rescue Team to the crater.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 1, 2024
After the eruption, the Cascades Volcano Observatory was formally established in Vancouver, Washington in 1982, and other offices quickly followed: the Alaska Volcano Observatory, the California Volcano Observatory, and the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
