Definition of volcano
volcanoes
orvolcanos
1 : a vent in the crust of the earth or another planet or a moon from which usually molten or hot rock and steam issue; also : a hill or mountain composed wholly or in part of the ejected material
2 : something of explosively violent potential
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Examples of volcano in a Sentence
The volcano last erupted 25 years ago.
beset by prolonged heat and lingering racial tension, the city was like a seething volcano
Recent Examples of volcano from the Web
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The game lets players push a cartoon Trump off a rocky precipice, into a volcano, down a New York manhole or into the mouth of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
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At the moment Katla, one of Iceland’s largest volcanoes, located near the island’s southern tip, sleeps beneath 700 metres of ice.
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Make a hole in the middle similar to a volcano and place the two (beaten?) eggs in it.
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Spanning 30 acres, the massive water theme park features a multi-directional wave pool, Krakatau, a speeding body slide that drops 200 feet into the volcano below, a winding river perfect for chilling out, and sandy beaches.
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Mount Sibayak is one of about 130 volcanoes in Indonesia.
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A popular stone used for these rings is the Lake County Diamond, which is featured in the ring below ($138, etsy.com), and is the result of the pressure and extreme temperatures from Mount Konocti, a now-dormant volcano in Lake County, California.
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Jess Phoenix was standing at the edge of an active volcano, trying to get some work done.
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But tornadoes, volcanoes, and tsunamis aren’t the only hubris-restraining forces out there.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'volcano.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of volcano
Origin and Etymology of volcano
Italian or Spanish; Italian vulcano, from Spanish volcán, ultimately from Latin Volcanus Vulcan
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
VOLCANO Defined for English Language Learners
volcano
playDefinition of volcano for English Language Learners
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: a mountain with a hole in the top or side that sometimes sends out rocks, ash, lava, etc., in a sudden explosion (called an eruption)
VOLCANO Defined for Kids
volcano
playDefinition of volcano for Students
volcanoes
orvolcanos
1 : an opening in the earth's crust from which hot or melted rock and steam erupt
2 : a hill or mountain composed of material thrown out in a volcanic eruption
History for volcano
Before Columbus, Europeans knew only the handful of active volcanoes long familiar to sailors in the Mediterranean, such as Vesuvius in Italy. There was no general word to describe a mountain that emitted fire. This situation changed in the 1500s, however, when the Spanish conquistadors came upon the great volcanic peaks of Mexico, Central America, and the Andes. In the writings of the conquistadors the word used for these mountains was volcán, whose roots lie in the ancient world. Vulcanus, the Roman god of fire, was particularly associated with the volcanic Lipari Islands off the coast of Sicily—one of which is still called Vulcano in Italian. Through Arabic, Latin Vulcanus was brought to Spanish as a name for fiery peaks, and from Spanish to Italian, French, and English.
Learn More about volcano
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for volcano Spanish Central: Translation of volcano Nglish: Translation of volcano for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of volcano for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about volcano
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