geyser

noun

gey·​ser ˈgī-zər 

British also ˈgē-zə

for sense 1 and usually ˈgē-zə for sense 2

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

There’s much more for fans of special effects to discover, from the practical snow used whenever feasible to the geysers of fake blood used to comedic effect. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

After tuning her up, Gosling flies through alien landscapes, including massive, skyscraper-sized geysers emerging from a planet’s ocean. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Residents in a South Fayette neighborhood woke up to a geyser after a water main break blew a hole in one person's front yard. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Similarly, changes in geyser activity or ground elevation are expected in such a large and dynamic hydrothermal system. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

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"