tectonic

tec·ton·ic

adjective \tek-ˈtä-nik\

Definition of TECTONIC

1

: of or relating to tectonics

2

: having a strong and widespread impact <a tectonic shift in voting patterns>

— tec·ton·i·cal·ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of TECTONIC

1. There has been a recent tectonic shift in voting patterns.
2. <a tectonic shift in societal trends occurred in the 1960s>

Origin of TECTONIC

Late Latin tectonicus, from Greek tektonikos of a builder, from tektōn builder — more at technical

First Known Use: 1894

Related to TECTONIC

Synonyms

big, consequential, earthshaking, earth-shattering, eventful, historic, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, substantial, important, weighty

Antonyms

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant

Related Words

decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic; earnest, grave, heavy, serious, sincere; distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable; valuable, worthwhile, worthy; distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious; famous, notorious, renowned; all-important, central, critical, crucial, essential, key, pivotal, seminal, vital

Near Antonyms

paltry, petty, worthless; anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with TECTONIC

Aaronic, atonic, benthonic, bionic, boronic, Brittonic, Brythonic, bubonic, Byronic, canonic, carbonic, colonic, cyclonic, daimonic, demonic, draconic, dystonic, euphonic, hadronic, harmonic, hedonic, hydronic, iconic, ionic, Ionic, laconic, Masonic, mnemonic, moronic, neutronic, photonic, phytonic, planktonic, platonic, plutonic, pneumonic, pythonic, sardonic, sermonic, Slavonic, subsonic, symphonic, synchronic, Teutonic, transonic