volcano

noun

vol·​ca·​no väl-ˈkā-(ˌ)nō 

vȯl-

plural volcanoes or volcanos

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

Illustration of volcano

• 1 cinder cone
• 2 shield volcano
• 3 stratovolcano

Synonyms

• time bomb
• powder keg
• flash point

Examples of volcano in a Sentence

The volcano last erupted 25 years ago.

after months of tension the roommates' living situation was a volcano

Recent Examples on the Web

At one point, Atsu climbs its range and skirts along the mouth of the dormant volcano, which spreads like an impossibly massive maw in every direction (Yōtei is pushing the limits of draw-distance tech). —Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025

Today, programs such as the USGS Volcanic Hazards Program and the Global Volcanism Program focus on preparation by monitoring active volcanoes through a variety of techniques. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025

Li said similar technology is being used in Iceland to record how magma is moving in volcanoes. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025

The clash sees Cliff Curtis’ spurned chieftain Keōua, now high on his own supply as the chosen of the volcano Gods, on the one side; then, Kaina Makua’s reluctant, good-hearted king Kamehameha, and Jason Momoa’s vengeful chief of war Ka’iana on the other. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian or Spanish; Italian vulcano, from Spanish volcán, ultimately from Latin Volcanus Vulcan

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing volcano

• shield volcano

Kids Definition

volcano

noun

vol·​ca·​no väl-ˈkā-nō 

vȯl-

plural volcanoes or volcanos

: a vent in the earth's crust from which melted or hot rock and steam come out

also : a hill or mountain composed entirely or in part of the material thrown out

Etymology

from Italian or Spanish; Italian vulcano "volcano," from Spanish vulcán, from Latin Volcanus, Vulcanus "Vulcan (Roman god of fire)"

Word Origin

The ancient Greeks and Romans had many gods and goddesses. Each of these deities was in charge of a special kind of work or an aspect of nature. Many of the happenings in nature were explained in myth as the actions of one or more of these gods or goddesses. The Roman god of fire was known as Vulcanus in Latin (Vulcan in English). He was thought to live inside Mount Etna, a volcano on the island of Sicily. Vulcan was a giant who worked as a blacksmith, forging the thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods. The smoke and occasional fiery rocks and lava that came from Mount Etna were thought to be from Vulcan's forge. That is how his name came to be applied to a mountain that sometimes spews forth fire and smoke.