Recent Examples on the WebHowever, since midsummer here the magma system that fuels the molten pots of nearby Fagradalsfjall and Litli-Hrútur volcanoes, 12 kilometers to the east, has bubbled and quaked.—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Nov. 2023 Our terrestrial magnetic field is formed when heat energy from molten iron in Earth’s outer core is converted into electrical and magnetic energy.—Maddie Bender, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Intense upticks in seismic activity can be linked to the movement of underground magma, or molten rock.—Denise Chow, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2023 The resulting arcing caused molten metal to fall to the ground and start several grassfires.—John Riha, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023 But the molten metal got thick and clumpy unusually fast, and the workers wondered whether there was something else — maybe some tin or lead?—Hadley Green, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 These outpourings filled up uninhabited valleys with crimson and tangerine rivers of molten rock and were often watched by curious onlookers from the surrounding hills, poked at by scientists, and celebrated by Icelanders as a showcase of their geologically dynamic country’s natural splendor.—WIRED, 16 Nov. 2023 Many of the quakes were along the path of an underground collection of magma, signaling a likely impending eruption as the hot, molten rock accumulates beneath the surface.—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported intense earthquake swarms in the southwestern part of the country in recent weeks, likely tied to the movement of underground magma, or molten rock, in and around the Reykjanes Peninsula.—Denise Chow, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'molten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from past participle of melten to melt
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