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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Cite this Entry
“Mid-ocean ridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mid-ocean%20ridge. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share