mid-ocean ridge

noun

: an elevated region with a central valley on an ocean floor at the boundary between two diverging tectonic plates where new crust forms from upwelling magma

Examples of mid-ocean ridge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Such a succession of volcanic rocks is typically found in a spreading zone of a mid-ocean ridge, forming today Earth’s oceanic crust. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 For the first time, scientists have witnessed an active seafloor volcanic eruption along a mid-ocean ridge. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025 Video This was the first time scientists had witnessed a clearly active eruption along the mid-ocean ridge, a volcanic mountain chain that stretches about 40,000 miles around the globe, like the seams of a baseball. Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 2 May 2025 This process continues today with a mid-ocean ridge running down the middle of the ocean, moving the current plates further apart. Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for mid-ocean ridge

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mid-ocean ridge was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Mid-ocean ridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mid-ocean%20ridge. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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