magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

1

archaic : dregs, sediment

2

: a thin pasty suspension (as of a precipitate in water)

3

: molten rock material within the earth from which igneous rock results by cooling

magmatic

mag-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Examples of magma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Massive volumes of volcanic ash, gas, and magma were released into the atmosphere during each of these eruptions. —Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024

The results from further analysis of this process could have implications for understanding how magma is formed and leads to volcanism. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Aug. 2024

Brown University planetary geoscientist and study co-author James W. Head says the relatively low lunar gravity likely allowed big bubbles of gas to form in magma, leaving behind subsurface voids. —Theo Nicitopoulos, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024

When in this pool, the magma melted the crustal rocks around it, which contained minute amounts of water, carbon dioxide and other gases, in addition to rhenium. —Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin magmat-, magma, from Greek, thick unguent, from massein to knead — more at mingle

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

: molten rock material within the earth

magmatic

mag-ˈmat-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

1

: a crude mixture of mineral or organic matter in the state of a thin paste

2

: a suspension of a large amount of precipitated material (as in milk of magnesia) in a small volume of a watery vehicle