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

In the process they learned that “a mid-crust composed of fractured igneous rocks saturated with liquid water best explains the existing data.”

From Salon

"Our capability to infer that the maturation stages were somehow influenced by igneous intrusions based on a small sample size is really exciting!"

From Science Daily

One thing about the PVP that delights Coffey is that it is composed of all three kinds of rock — sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the new discoveries was finding primary igneous rocks in Jezero Crater.

From Science Daily

One popular theory suggests that minerals released by the weathering of igneous rock sucked enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to set off a deep freeze.

From New York Times

Related Words

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