outcrop

1 of 2

noun

out·​crop ˈau̇t-ˌkräp 

1

: a coming out of bedrock or of an unconsolidated deposit to the surface of the ground

2

: the part of a rock formation that appears at the surface of the ground

outcrop

2 of 2

verb

out·​crop ˈau̇t-ˌkräp 

ˌau̇t-ˈkräp

outcropped; outcropping; outcrops

intransitive verb

1

: to project from the surrounding soil

ledges outcropping from the eroded slope

2

: to come to the surface : appear

Examples of outcrop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Around 150 individuals existed in 2011 on a tidal rock barren atop a small limestone outcrop among a plethora of mangroves in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. —Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 14 July 2024

Discovered in 1992, this solitary stand of Key Largo tree cactuses sprouted from a limestone outcrop bordered by mangroves on Key Largo, a 33-mile-long island south of Miami popular with tourists. —Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 13 July 2024

Verb

Five friends traveled from Florida to be on a rock outcropping to witness the celestial event. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

The environmental data is being collected at San Martin West over an outcropping copper-silver mineralization trend that has been mapped for over 2.3 km of strike including 5.8m at 3.1% copper and 65 g/t silver from surface (previously reported). —Kansas City Star, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

out entry 1 + crop entry 2, after crop out "to protrude from the ground"

Note: See the note at crop entry 2 regarding geological senses of the verb.

Verb

derivative of outcrop entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

outcrop

1 of 2 noun

out·​crop ˈau̇t-ˌkräp 

1

: a coming out of bedrock to the surface of the ground

2

: the part of a rock formation that appears at the surface of the ground

outcrop

2 of 2 verb

out·​crop ˈau̇t-ˌkräp 

(ˈ)au̇t-ˈkräp

outcropped; outcropping

: to come to the surface : appear

granite outcropping through softer rocks