fumarole

noun fu·ma·role \ ˈfyü-mə-ˌrōl \

Definition of fumarole

: a hole in a volcanic region from which hot gases and vapors issue

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fumarolic

play \ˌfyü-mə-ˈrō-lik\ adjective

Recent Examples of fumarole from the Web

The whole area seethes with hydrothermal activity: Sulfuric acid spews from active fumaroles; geysers spout water and steam; the ground froths with boiling mud; and earthquake swarms shudder through the region, 125 miles south of Rome.

— kristine phillips, Washington Post, "An 11-year-old boy fell into an Italian volcanic crater. His parents also died trying to save him.," 12 Sep. 2017
The whole area seethes with hydrothermal activity: Sulfuric acid spews from active fumaroles

— kristine phillips, Washington Post, "An 11-year-old boy fell into an Italian volcanic crater. His parents also died trying to save him.," 12 Sep. 2017
The smoking fumaroles, sky-blue hot springs, and mossy hills intermingle to create the kinds of pastel neon sediments normally found in cartoons, not nature.

— mosha lundström halbert, Vogue, "From Rauðhólar to Vík: A Guide to Southern Iceland," 9 Sep. 2017
The fumaroles, steam plumes and bubbling, bursting geysers put on an impressive natural exhibition.

— photographs by adam harteau, New York Times, "This Family’s Road Trip Never Ends," 28 Aug. 2017
The voyages offer travelers an easy way to get to some of Iceland's most remote areas and see the full range of its famously striking landscapes, from geothermal fields of geysers and fumaroles to mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls.

— gene sloan, USA TODAY, "Cruising to adventure in Iceland on a Windstar ship," 25 Aug. 2017
Breakfast at sun-break in the Geysers of Tatio, the highest geothermal fields on earth: fields of steaming geysers, fumaroles, hundreds of pools of boiling water with the striking background of the Cordillera peaks.

— maita barrenechea, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to South America," 5 Oct. 2016
The area is home to some of the park's geothermal wonders: hot pools, mud pots, and steaming fumaroles.

— National Geographic, "12 Retro Pictures Capture the Majesty of Yellowstone," 1 Mar. 2016
The only signal could be increasing temperature of fumarole and crater lakes as the crater vent area heats up — but that might not even be necessary.

— erik klemetti, WIRED, "Over 30 Hikers Die During Ontake Eruption in Japan: What Happened?," 28 Sep. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fumarole.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fumarole

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1811

in the meaning defined above

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