nuée ardente

[ French ny-ey ar-dahnt ]

noun

, Geology.

, plural nu·ées ar·dentes [n, y, -ey z, a, r, -, dahnt].

1. (in a volcanic eruption) a swiftly flowing, dense cloud of hot gases, ashes, and lava fragments.

nuée ardente

/ ˈnyeɪ ɑːˈdɑ̃t /

noun

1. a rapidly moving turbulent incandescent cloud of gas, ash, and rock fragments flowing close to the ground after violent ejection from a volcano See also ignimbrite

nuée ardente

/ no̅o̅-ā′ăr-dänt′ /

, Plural nuées ardentes no̅o̅-āz′ăr-dänt′

1. A fast moving gaseous cloud of hot ashes and other material thrown out from an erupting volcano. Nuées ardentes are often incandescent.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuée ardente¹

1900–05; < French: literally, burning cloud

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuée ardente¹

C20: from French, literally: burning cloud