slickenside

noun

slick·​en·​side ˈsli-kən-ˌsīd How to pronounce slickenside (audio)
: a smooth often striated surface produced on rock by movement along a fault or a subsidiary fracture
—usually used in plural

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The 150-foot-long and 75-foot-tall surface is one of the largest chert slickensides exposures in California. —Thomas Graham, SFChronicle.com, 28 June 2018

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

Word History

Etymology

English dialect slicken smooth (from slick entry 1) + English side

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slickenside was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near slickenside

slickens

slickenside

slicker

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Slickenside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slickenside. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slickenside

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slickenside

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