basalt

noun

: a dark gray to black dense to fine-grained igneous rock that consists of basic plagioclase, augite, and usually magnetite
basaltic adjective

Examples of basalt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This ocean canyon heaves waves of shale and basalt, quartz and silt. Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026 Abiqua Falls — known for its 92-foot (28-meter) vertical drop over a columnar basalt cliff — has been privately owned for over a century but open to the public. ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026 Magong sits as the main city of Taiwan’s Penghu archipelago, a group of islands in the Taiwan Strait known for striking basalt rock formations, traditional fishing villages, and a noticeably slower pace of life. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026 Tucked into a valley in the south of Iceland, this 82-foot-long outdoor pool feels as wild as its setting; a concrete haven jutting from the side of the basalt rock cliffs, draped in splotches of moss. Lauren Breedlove, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for basalt

Word History

Etymology

Latin basaltes, manuscript variant of basanites touchstone, from Greek basanitēs (lithos), from basanos touchstone, from Egyptian bḫnw

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of basalt was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Basalt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basalt. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

basalt

noun
: a dark gray to black usually fine-grained igneous rock
basaltic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on basalt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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