geyser

noun

gey·​ser ˈgī-zər 

 British also  ˈgē-zə,

 for sense 1 and usually  for sense 2 ˈgē-zə

1

: a spring that throws forth intermittent jets of heated water and steam

2

British : an apparatus for heating water rapidly with a gas flame (as for a bath)

Did you know?

A hot spring that discharges intermittent jets of steam and water is called a geyser. Geysers are generally associated with recent volcanic activity. They are produced by the heating of underground waters that have come into contact with, or are very close to, magma. Geyser discharges as high as 1,600 ft (500 m) have been recorded, but 160 ft (50 m) is much more common. Occasionally, a geyser will adopt an extremely regular and predictable pattern of intermittent activity and discharge for a few minutes every hour or so (for example, Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park).

Examples of geyser in a Sentence

The water from the geyser rises as high as 75 feet.

geysers rising as high as 75 feet

The water shot into the sky in an enormous geyser.

Recent Examples on the Web

Expedia's Unpack 2025 travel trends report revealed that 61% of travelers want to experience seeing the Northern Lights, followed by 30% looking to see geological phenomena like volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs. —Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025

Yellowstone is home to the world’s tallest active geyser and America’s biggest supervolcano. —Emilee Coblentz, Outside Online, 28 Aug. 2025

Seismic activity also creates spurting geysers and toasty geothermal pools, particularly in magma-rich areas like the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and around Borgarfjörður fjord, both in the west. —Robin Catalano, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2025

The geyser, about a 5-mile trek from the Old Faithful geyser, features a walking and biking trail, but park officials warn that straying from marked paths and boardwalks can be dangerous throughout the park. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Icelandic Geysir, hot spring in Iceland, from geysa to rush forth, from Old Norse; akin to Old English gēotan to pour — more at found

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for geyser

• miser
• riser
• sizer
• visor
• wiser
• advertiser
• analyser
• analyzer
• appetizer
• atomizer
• breathalyzer
• colonizer

Kids Definition

geyser

noun

gey·​ser ˈgī-zər 

: a spring that now and then shoots out hot water and steam

Etymology

from Icelandic Geyser "a hot spring in Iceland," from geysa "to rush forth"