oceanic crust

American  

[oh-shee-an-ik kruhst] / ˌoʊ ʃiˈæn ɪk ˈkrʌst /

noun

1. Geology. the outer layer of Earth's lithosphere that lies beneath the oceans, composed mainly of basalt, about 3–6 miles (5–10 km) thick, and noted as being younger, thinner, and denser than continental crust.

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oceanic crust Scientific  

1. See under crust

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Other Word Forms

• oceanic crustal adjective

Example Sentences

Near the Azores, a comparable trench system called the Terceira Rift is forming in another region where the oceanic crust is unusually thick.

From Science Daily

Before the plate boundary moved into the area, the oceanic crust there had already become unusually thick and heated.

From Science Daily

Continental crust: The thick, buoyant type of crust that forms Earth's continents, distinct from the thinner oceanic crust.

From Science Daily

This missing step involves a sort of geologic juicing in a magma chamber where zircons form before they reach the surface, with oceanic crust entering the chamber ahead of continental crust.

From Science Daily

While the opening of the basin creates oceanic crust, its closing squeezes the crust into mountains -- bringing a geologic record of Earth history to the surface where humans can more easily access it, said coauthor Matt Malkowski, an assistant professor at the Jackson School's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

From Science Daily