lithosphere

noun lith·o·sphere \ ˈli-thə-ˌsfir \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of lithosphere

: the solid part of a celestial body (such as the earth); specifically : the outer part of the solid earth composed of rock essentially like that exposed at the surface, consisting of the crust and outermost layer of the mantle, and usually considered to be about 60 miles (100 kilometers) in thickness

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lithospheric

play \ˌli-thə-ˈsfir-ik, -ˈsfer-\ adjective

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Recent Examples of lithosphere from the Web

In the East African Rift’s case, a large mantle plume under the lithosphere is weakening it, allowing it to stretch, Perez Diaz said.

— laura geggel, Washington Post, "A huge crack provides evidence that Africa is slowly splitting into two," 7 Apr. 2018
The Earth's lithosphere (formed by the crust and the upper part of the mantle) is broken up into a number of tectonic plates.

— lucia perez diaz, CNN, "Big crack evidence East Africa could be splitting in two," 5 Apr. 2018
The lithosphere, in other words, is the layer of the planet that makes up the tectonic plates.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "A Thorny Debate in Plate Tectonics May Finally Be Resolved," 21 Aug. 2017
The lithosphere is above another layer of mantle called the asthenopshere, where the rock is at just the right pressure and temperature to flow over time and help move the plates.

— erik klemetti, WIRED, "A volcanic cruise through the Mariana Islands: Part 1," 13 July 2010

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lithosphere.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.