fumarole

noun

fu·​ma·​role ˈfyü-mə-ˌrōl How to pronounce fumarole (audio)
: a hole in a volcanic region from which hot gases and vapors issue
fumarolic adjective

Examples of fumarole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the time, Lassen Peak was actively erupting, and there are still plenty of boiling mud pots, evil-smelling steam vents and fumaroles and poison lakes today. Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 El Tatio is the third largest geyser field in the world, with more than 80 geysers and 100-plus fumaroles (spaces where volcanic gas is emitted). Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2024 The hot fluids model would be consistent with the large quantities of carbon dioxide measured at fumaroles and the shape of the ground’s bulge, which is greater at the epicenter, close to the town of Pozzuoli, Italy, and gradually decreases from there. Alessio Perrone, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2023 For scuba divers who prefer to spend their time under the sea, there are plenty of tour operators to take you diving among the reefs and to see bubbling fumaroles. Jamie Ditaranto, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2023 In this part of the world, many volcanoes have active fumaroles (gas vents) that release sulfur and their summits can be covered with sulfur deposits that came from all these hot, acidic volcanic gases rising through the volcano. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023 The yellow crust around steam vents (known as fumaroles) is evidence of sulfur crystallising out of gases and liquids at these volcanoes. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023 Over 500 earthquakes were recorded under the volcano between February 22-23 and with an accompanying increase in fumarole emissions (steam and volcanic gases) from the summit (see above), Ingemmet chose to raise the alert status at Sabancaya to Orange. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2013 The terrain is dramatic and varied — volcanic crater lakes, lush forests, fumaroles, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and azure waves define the breathtaking landscape. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fumarole.' 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

Italian fumarola, from Italian dialect (Neapolitan), from Late Latin fumariolum vent, from Latin fumarium smoke chamber for aging wine, from fumus

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fumarole was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near fumarole

Cite this Entry

“Fumarole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fumarole. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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