phreatic

adjective phre·at·ic \ frē-ˈa-tik \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Definition of phreatic

1 : of, relating to, or being groundwater

2 : of, relating to, or being an explosion caused by steam derived from groundwater

Recent Examples of phreatic from the Web

Since May 2, the lava lake in the crater began to drop, which increases the chances for a phreatic explosion.

— madison park and amir vera, CNN, "High levels of sulfur dioxide prompt health warning in Hawaii," 15 May 2018
What volcanic feature, located inside the crater of an erupting Hawaiian volcano, has been dropping for weeks, increasing geologists' concerns that a phreatic eruption is likely?

— CNN, "CNN 10 - May 18, 2018," 17 May 2018
As pressure builds, eventually Kilauea will explode steam, hurling any loose rocks with it — a phenomenon known as a phreatic explosion, Tina Neal, a geologist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said at the news conference.

— Fox News, "Kilauea volcano could launch 10-ton ballistic boulders in dramatic explosion," 11 May 2018
The volcano had experienced a phreatic explosion (water-magma explosions) in early January.

— erik klemetti, WIRED, "Wednesday Whatzits," 27 May 2009

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phreatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.