lithosphere

noun

lith·o·sphere | \ ˈli-thə-ˌsfir

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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Examples of lithosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are four main reservoirs of oxygen on Earth: the terrestrial biosphere (green), marine biosphere (blue), lithosphere (Earth’s crust, brown), and atmosphere (grey). — The Conversation, oregonlive.com, "Amazon fires are alarming -- but, no, they won’t deplete Earth’s oxygen: The Conversation," 26 Aug. 2019 The larger the slab of lithosphere sinking at a subduction zone, the faster the plate moves, and the stronger the seismic activity. Plates meet. — National Geographic, "THE PACIFIC’S FIERY RING," 27 June 2019 But the puzzle pieces of the lithosphere are always in motion, slamming against one another, grinding past or getting shoved under another slab. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Plate Tectonics: The Slow Dance of Our Planet's Crust," 12 June 2019 Cold, dense oceanic lithosphere sinks below an adjacent, lighter plate, plunging into the hot asthenosphere. — National Geographic, "THE PACIFIC’S FIERY RING," 27 June 2019 That’s all thanks to the lithosphere, a solid layer of crust and part of the upper mantle that’s broken into more than a dozen slabs, or plates, of varying sizes. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Plate Tectonics: The Slow Dance of Our Planet's Crust," 12 June 2019 The lithosphere is unable to move much, but the water is pulled by the gravity and a bulge is created. — Patrick May, The Mercury News, "How low can you go? West Coast tides this summer should be astonishing," 3 June 2019 This latest study examines what was lying below the Siberian Flood Basalts, rock between the crust and the mantle known as the lithosphere. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Discover New Details on How the "Great Dying" Nearly Ended Life on Earth," 28 Aug. 2018 The Siberian lithosphere was loaded with chlorine, bromine, and iodine. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Discover New Details on How the "Great Dying" Nearly Ended Life on Earth," 28 Aug. 2018

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.