lahar

noun

la·​har ˈlä-ˌhär How to pronounce lahar (audio)
: a moving fluid mass composed of volcanic debris and water

Examples of lahar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Intense rainfall, as common in tropical latitudes, and water vapor in the eruption column can mix with volcanic ash and debris, forming deadly mudflows called lahars by geologists after an Indonesian word for ravines on the slopes of a volcano. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 According to authorities, this time lahars pose the greatest danger. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 The initial blast; flying debris; hot gases; and fast-moving mud, rock, water (known as lahars) all present different hazards, and, therefore different avoidance strategies. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 Pyroclastic flows and mudflows, or lahars, could affect the upper Chakachatna River valley. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lahar

Word History

Etymology

Javanese

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lahar was in 1929

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Cite this Entry

“Lahar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lahar. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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