Vesuvian

American  

[vuh-soo-vee-uhn] / vəˈsu vi ən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling Mount Vesuvius; volcanic.

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noun

1. (lowercase) a type of match formerly used for lighting cigars; fusee.

vesuvian British  

/ vɪˈsuːvɪən /

noun

1. (esp formerly) a match for lighting cigars; fusee

2. another name for vesuvianite

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Etymology

Origin of Vesuvian

First recorded in 1665–75; Vesuvi(us) + -an

Example Sentences

One of the more remarkable findings was the product of pure scholarship: Mr. Goddio remembered a fresco he’d seen unearthed in Herculaneum, the city buried along with Pompeii by the Vesuvian eruption of A.D.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

Now, the diggers are progressively pulling away the volcanic ash and pea-sized stones, known as lapilli that smothered Pompeii during the two catastrophic days of the Vesuvian eruption.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2023

“The study is exciting because it shows that DNA is preserved from the towns buried by the Vesuvian eruption despite high temperatures,” said David Reich, a Harvard geneticist, who was not involved in the research.

From New York Times • May 26, 2022

The scientists behind the September study possibly hinting at life in the Vesuvian clouds based their findings on the presence of the toxic gas phosphine.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2021

In some respects in principle it resembles that of Professor Palmieri, of which he has made such extended use at the Vesuvian Observatory, though it differs much from the latter in detail.

From The Eruption of Vesuvius in 1872 by Palmieri, Luigi