slickenside

noun

slick·​en·​side ˈsli-kən-ˌsīd How to pronounce slickenside (audio)
: a smooth often striated surface produced on rock by movement along a fault or a subsidiary fracture
usually used in plural

Examples of slickenside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The 150-foot-long and 75-foot-tall surface is one of the largest chert slickensides exposures in California. Thomas Graham, SFChronicle.com, 28 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slickenside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

English dialect slicken smooth (from slick entry 1) + English side

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slickenside was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near slickenside

Cite this Entry

“Slickenside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slickenside. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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