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
out·crop
ˈau̇t-ˌkräp
ˌau̇t-ˈkräp
outcropped; outcropping; outcrops
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
Christopher Helman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Photos taken en route showed apparent layering in the nearest outcrops.
—Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2023
Hidden within the hill, in an outcrop of rock, was a group of fossils nearly 280 million years in the making.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
The cephalopods were found near a small outcrop of rock called El Dorado Hill.
1:11
Scientists have discovered at least four new species of octopus in the deep waters of a 100-square-mile area near Costa Rica, officials from the Schmidt Ocean Institute said on Tuesday.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2024
Dutton and her colleagues performed the same careful analysis for each part of the outcrop.
—Frank Hulley-Jones, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
The animal found inside the outcrop averaged about a meter (about 3 feet) in length with a long snout and tail and thin rows of delicate teeth.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
Still standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking the River of Fleet estuary, the McCulloch stronghold was built in the 1400s.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Sep. 2023
The boat slows to a stop as percussionist Pius Cheung appears, standing on a sandstone outcrop overhead.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2023
Patricia Cohen Violette Franchi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
The reefs that outcropped in Johannesburg extend deep underground, making up part of the Witwatersrand basin, a geological formation that stretches in an arc two hundred and fifty miles long.
—Kimon De Greef, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023
This exclusive, discrete resort (no photos allowed) consists of a series of bungalows set around a private lagoon, whose waters are protected from the waves by a rock outcropping dotted with deluxe beach chairs.
—Shannon Sims, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
While the iron boat badly deteriorated badly over the century it's been exposed to the elements, the scow has remained tightly fixed to a rock outcropping since August 1918.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN, 2 Nov. 2019
Magnetic anomalies abounded in the ancient natural world, where a lightning strike on a rock outcropping was much more likely than today.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 6 Aug. 2019
On the evening of January 28, 1918, fifteen unarmed men and boys were rounded up and roped together by Texas Rangers and local ranchers, then led to a rock outcropping in the desert and shot dead.
—Steve Anderson, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2019
In Topanga State Park, hike up to Eagle Rock—a massive sandstone outcropping nearly 2,000 feet above sea level—for panoramic views.
—Rico Gagliano, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2018
But here Bidwell starts to feel wilder, as the Maidu and Middle and Upper Trails branch off into the foothills and toward the rock outcropping known as Monkey Face, and other trails dip into the dense riparian growth along Big Chico Creek.
—Peter Fish, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2018
Noun
Rowe, 56, came to Nevada prospecting for gold and copper, and was struck by the Ridge, a volcanic rock outcrop in the southwest part of the state.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Photos taken en route showed apparent layering in the nearest outcrops.
—Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2023
Hidden within the hill, in an outcrop of rock, was a group of fossils nearly 280 million years in the making.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
The cephalopods were found near a small outcrop of rock called El Dorado Hill.
1:11
Scientists have discovered at least four new species of octopus in the deep waters of a 100-square-mile area near Costa Rica, officials from the Schmidt Ocean Institute said on Tuesday.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2024
Dutton and her colleagues performed the same careful analysis for each part of the outcrop.
—Frank Hulley-Jones, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
The animal found inside the outcrop averaged about a meter (about 3 feet) in length with a long snout and tail and thin rows of delicate teeth.
—Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
Still standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking the River of Fleet estuary, the McCulloch stronghold was built in the 1400s.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Sep. 2023
The boat slows to a stop as percussionist Pius Cheung appears, standing on a sandstone outcrop overhead.
—Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2023
Verb
Because it is situated on a limestone outcropping on the ridge of a tectonic plate, the soil contains ancient seabeds and a rich combination of minerals.
—Patricia Cohen Violette Franchi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
The reefs that outcropped in Johannesburg extend deep underground, making up part of the Witwatersrand basin, a geological formation that stretches in an arc two hundred and fifty miles long.
—Kimon De Greef, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023
This exclusive, discrete resort (no photos allowed) consists of a series of bungalows set around a private lagoon, whose waters are protected from the waves by a rock outcropping dotted with deluxe beach chairs.
—Shannon Sims, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2020
While the iron boat badly deteriorated badly over the century it's been exposed to the elements, the scow has remained tightly fixed to a rock outcropping since August 1918.
—Jeanne Bonner, CNN, 2 Nov. 2019
Magnetic anomalies abounded in the ancient natural world, where a lightning strike on a rock outcropping was much more likely than today.
—David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 6 Aug. 2019
On the evening of January 28, 1918, fifteen unarmed men and boys were rounded up and roped together by Texas Rangers and local ranchers, then led to a rock outcropping in the desert and shot dead.
—Steve Anderson, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2019
In Topanga State Park, hike up to Eagle Rock—a massive sandstone outcropping nearly 2,000 feet above sea level—for panoramic views.
—Rico Gagliano, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2018
But here Bidwell starts to feel wilder, as the Maidu and Middle and Upper Trails branch off into the foothills and toward the rock outcropping known as Monkey Face, and other trails dip into the dense riparian growth along Big Chico Creek.
—Peter Fish, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outcrop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near outcrop
Cite this Entry
“Outcrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outcrop. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share