geyser

noun

gey·​ser ˈgī-zər How to pronounce geyser (audio)
 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 Although volcanic eruptions aren’t an everyday occurrence, geysers are one of the visible indicators of Iceland’s volcanic activity hiding just below the surface. David Nikel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 On Earth, these geologically heated geysers support all manner of life miles below the surface; Europa, with its flexing crust, could easily be home to similar processes. TIME, 12 Feb. 2024 But Saturn’s Enceladus appears younger because active geysers have contributed to resurfacing, or depositing of new, fresh material on that moon’s surface. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024 For the new study, the researchers used statistical modeling to predict which set of chemical compounds in the geyser plumes would best explain the data collected by Cassini’s Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Dec. 2023 At the Springs, Waukesha Waterworks has water cannons, waterslides and water geysers, as well as a 600-gallon dump bucket, which dumps approximately every ten minutes. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 Then, a hot water pipe burst on the street near her building Jan. 17, sending a geyser of hot water and steam into the air. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 8 Feb. 2024 Iceland is home to the nearly 200-mile Golden Circle, where visitors can see waterfalls, geysers, volcanic craters, hot springs, and Thingvellir National Park. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2024 Rivers and streams curve through the predominantly horizontal panoramas, although Fink switches to vertical formats for waterfalls, geysers and canyons. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of geyser was in 1780

Dictionary Entries Near geyser

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

geyser

noun
gey·​ser ˈgī-zər How to pronounce geyser (audio)
: 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"

More from Merriam-Webster on geyser

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