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

Observations suggest the exoplanet has a global magma ocean and that it is surrounded by a thick layer of gas. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

What To Know The volcano showed low-level activity starting in July 2025, including underground magma movement and early sulfur dioxide emissions, according to the Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET), as cited in a NASA report Thursday. —MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Meanwhile, volcano experts have collected samples to determine the magma type and verify whether the volcano was truly dormant for 12,000 years. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025

Marzocchi says the data suggest that, for now, the tremors are more the result of gases pushing superheated water up through the earth, rather than magma rising. —Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 25 Nov. 2025

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