upthrust

American  

[uhp-thruhst] / ˈʌpˌθrʌst /

noun

1. a thrust in an upward direction.

2. a sudden and forceful upward movement, as of a nation's economy or the stock market.

   Market observers are hoping the upthrust can be sustained.

3. Geology. an upheaval.

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verb (used without object)

1. to thrust upward.

   Frost caused the ground to upthrust.

upthrust British  

/ ˈʌpˌθrʌst /

noun

1. an upward push or thrust

2. geology a violent upheaval of the earth's surface

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Etymology

Origin of upthrust

First recorded in 1840–50; up- + thrust

Example Sentences

The crescent lines with which their lowered arms answer their upthrust legs are terrific, like the long, slanting curve of the two legs.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2016

The scenery would have been enough to draw me to the cordillera, with its upthrust layers of multicolored sedimentary rock set around a crater that’s encircled by rugged river canyons.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2016

The statue’s upthrust arm holds a sword, representative of justice; behind her back she hides a set of scales.

From Time • Oct. 17, 2012

Brass players stood like sentinels along the edge of an upthrust triangle of grass against the backdrop of a New York cityscape gilded by the late sun.

From Washington Post

It looked like an enormous auger shell, or a unicorn’s horn upthrust from the earth, and was said to stand at over six hundred feet.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor