igneous

[ ig-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. Geology. produced under conditions involving intense heat, as rocks of volcanic origin or rocks crystallized from molten magma.
2. of, relating to, or characteristic of fire.

igneous

/ ˈɪɡnɪəs /

adjective

1. (of rocks) derived by solidification of magma or molten lava emplaced on or below the earth's surface Compare sedimentary metamorphic
2. of or relating to fire

igneous

/ ĭg′nē-əs /

1. Relating to rocks or minerals formed by the cooling and hardening of magma or molten lava. Basalt and granite are examples of igneous rocks.
2. Relating to the processes, such as volcanism, by which such rocks and minerals form.

Other Words From

• non·ig·ne·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of igneous¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin igneus “fiery, on fire, burning,” equivalent to igni(s) “fire” + -eus -eous. Ignis is the Latin form of the Proto-Indo-European egni-s, ogni-s, one of the Proto-Indo-European words for “fire,” and it is closely related to Slavic ( Polish ) ogień (inflectional stem ogni- ) and to Sanskrit agni- Agni ( def ); fire ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of igneous¹

C17: from Latin igneus fiery, from ignis fire

Example Sentences

The samples were of crystalline igneous rock, meaning rock that solidified into crystals from hot lava or magma.

From Popular-Science

Perseverance has also found evidence of igneous, or volcanic, rocks on Jezero’s crater floor.

From Science News

Formed by eons of erosion between two different kinds of igneous rock, the cave sits right in the middle of where weather from the Pacific Ocean meets weather from the Atlantic Ocean.

From Popular-Science

Unlike magma turning into igneous rock, for example, diamonds don’t melt and recrystallize.

From Popular-Science

They needed more data from various igneous rocks to expand their calibration of the instrument.

From Popular-Science

The most ancient and lowest stratum of this igneous formation is a compact conglomerate known as tufa lithoide.

From Project Gutenberg

The "erratics" comprised a great variety of metamorphic and igneous rocks, and, on a more limited scale, sedimentary types.

From Project Gutenberg

The beacons were found to be part of a horizontal, stratified series of sandstones underlying the igneous rock.

From Project Gutenberg

The metamorphism of the igneous rocks is regional in nature and has the same increase from west to east as the sediments.

From Project Gutenberg

The stone formation bears the usual indications of aqueous and igneous deposits, but more of the former than the latter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blazing
• burning
• combustible
• excitable
• fierce
• flaming
• glowing
• heated
• hot
• impassioned
• intense
• red-hot
• spirited
• vehement
• violent