sima

¹ American  

[sahy-muh] / ˈsaɪ mə /

noun

Geology.

1. an assemblage of rocks, rich in silica and magnesium, that constitutes the lower layer of the earth's crust and is found beneath the ocean floors and the sial of continents.

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sima ² American  

[sahy-muh] / ˈsaɪ mə /

noun

Architecture.

1. the uppermost member of a full classical order, usually a cyma recta, representing a roof gutter; cymatium.

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sima British  

/ saɪˈmætɪk, ˈsaɪmə /

noun

1. the silicon-rich and magnesium-rich rocks of the earth's oceanic crust, the most abundant individual rock being basalt

2. the earth's continental lower crust, probably comprised of gabbro rather than basalt

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Other Word Forms

• simatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of sima¹

< German (1909), equivalent to Latin si ( licium ) silicium + ma ( gnesium ) magnesium

Origin of sima²

Variant of cyma

Example Sentences

The staple food is "sima", a maize flour mixed with water.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2010

Though her father's vis its were her festive times, both Co sima and Richard had violent nightmares involving Lizst.

From Time Magazine Archive

This sima is sometimes continued along the long sides of the building, and sometimes not.

From A History of Greek Art by Tarbell, Frank Bigelow