1
a
: formed by solidification of magma
igneous rock
b
: relating to, resulting from, or suggestive of the intrusion or extrusion of magma or volcanic activity
2
: of, relating to, or resembling fire : fiery
Examples of igneous in a Sentence
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That's starkly different from how REEs are typically found on Earth, concentrating in small quantities as compounds in certain types of igneous rocks as magma cools.
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Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Nov. 2025
The area has since become a popular spot for gold mining due to the presence of the Yilgarn Craton, a major part of the Earth’s crust that consists of igneous and metamorphic rocks, per GeoScience Australia.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Olivine is a mineral primarily found in igneous rocks (rocks created through the solidification and crystallization of molten rock) that are rich in magnesium and iron.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Today’s rich variety of igneous rocks forms thanks to complex processes, including remelting, adsorption, and exchange of chemical elements, happening in Earth’s crust and driven by plate tectonics.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
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Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 24 Nov. 2025
The area has since become a popular spot for gold mining due to the presence of the Yilgarn Craton, a major part of the Earth’s crust that consists of igneous and metamorphic rocks, per GeoScience Australia.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Olivine is a mineral primarily found in igneous rocks (rocks created through the solidification and crystallization of molten rock) that are rich in magnesium and iron.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
Today’s rich variety of igneous rocks forms thanks to complex processes, including remelting, adsorption, and exchange of chemical elements, happening in Earth’s crust and driven by plate tectonics.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for igneous
Cite this Entry
“Igneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/igneous. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
igneous
adjective
ig·ne·ous
ˈig-nē-əs 
: formed by hardening of melted earth
igneous rock
compare metamorphic, sedimentary sense 2
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