basalt

[ buh-sawlt, bas-awlt, bey-sawlt ]

noun

1. the dark, dense igneous rock of a lava flow or minor intrusion, composed essentially of labradorite and pyroxene and often displaying a columnar structure.

basalt

/ ˈbæsɔːlt /

noun

1. a fine-grained dark basic igneous rock consisting of plagioclase feldspar, a pyroxene, and olivine: the most common volcanic rock and usually extrusive See flood basalt
2. a form of black unglazed pottery resembling basalt

basalt

/ bə-sôlt′,bā′sôlt′ /

1. A dark, fine-grained, igneous rock consisting mostly of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene, and sometimes olivine. Basalt makes up most of the ocean floor and is the most common type of lava. It sometimes cools into characteristic hexagonal columns, as in the Giant's Causeway in Anterim, Northern Island. It is the fine-grained equivalent of gabbro.

basalt

1. A hard, dense igneous rock that makes up much of the material in tectonic plates . The part of the Earth 's crust beneath the oceans consists mainly of basalt whereas continental crust consists mainly of less dense rocks, such as granite . ( See plate tectonics .)

Derived Forms

• baˈsaltic, adjective

Other Words From

• ba·saltic ba·sal·tine [b, uh, -, sawl, -tin, -tahyn], adjective
• subba·saltic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of basalt¹

1595–1605; < Latin basaltēs, a misreading, in manuscripts of Pliny, of basanītēs < Greek basanī́tēs ( líthos ) touchstone, equivalent to básan ( os ) touchstone (ultimately < Egyptian bh̬n ( w ) graywacke) + -ītēs -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of basalt¹

C18: from Late Latin basaltēs , variant of basanītēs , from Greek basanitēs touchstone, from basanos , of Egyptian origin

Example Sentences

“This is a fresh basalt here,” says Dr Voight, showing me a lump of black rock taken from a recent volcanic eruption, and riddled with tiny holes.

From BBC

One such approach, called enhanced rock weathering, involves spreading finely ground silicate rocks, like basalt, on the ground or the ocean, which absorb carbon dioxide from the air as they weather in the rain.

From Salon

On Earth, basalts are a main component of the planet's crust, especially under the oceans, while olivines are abundant in its mantle.

From Science Daily

An enormous basalt cascading fountain engineered to appear like the rippling surface of water echoes the constantly moving tides and chop of nearby Elliott Bay.

From Seattle Times

With limited time, most tourists simply stop at the signed parking lot for the wheelchair-accessible paved trail to Madison Creek Falls, where 100-foot falls rush down a basalt cliff.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• magma
• slag