plural scoriae
ˈskȯr-ē-ˌē 
-ē-ˌī
1
: the refuse from melting of metals or reduction of ores : slag
2
: rough vesicular cindery lava
Examples of scoria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The brow of the mountain represents Budj Bim’s forehead, the sharp basalt scoria rocks are the giant’s teeth, and the lava flows are his blood, which poured over the land.
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
In addition to the bright orange lava fountains that make for a dramatic spectacle and wildly shareable social media content, the eruption also sent ash and other material like scoria and so-called Pele’s hair nearly a mile into the atmosphere.
—Eric MacK, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
There is archaeological evidence that people moved 30 kilometers to the north because much of the area near Sunset Crater was covered in coarse volcanic scoria.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2017
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Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
In addition to the bright orange lava fountains that make for a dramatic spectacle and wildly shareable social media content, the eruption also sent ash and other material like scoria and so-called Pele’s hair nearly a mile into the atmosphere.
—Eric MacK, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
There is archaeological evidence that people moved 30 kilometers to the north because much of the area near Sunset Crater was covered in coarse volcanic scoria.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Scoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scoria. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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