volcano

noun

vol·ca·no | \ väl-ˈkā-(ˌ)nō

, vȯl-\

plural volcanoes or volcanos

Definition of volcano

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 on the Web

In 1991, the volcano Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines, sending millions of tons of ash and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Harvard Scientists Are Really Launching a Sun-Blocking Geoengineering Experiment," 5 Dec. 2018 There were numerous possibilities: maybe a volcano had erupted? — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "The deserts of Titan have organic dust storms," 4 Oct. 2018 Red molten lava continued to spurt into the sky Friday morning hours after Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted, forcing officials to issue widespread evacuation orders to more than 1,500 residents. — Amy Lieu, Lucia I. Suarez Sang, Fox News, "Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts, mandatory evacuations ordered for more than 1,000 people," 2 Oct. 2018 Officials ordered terrified residents to stay away from the shoreline in case a new eruption from the volcano unleashed another tsunami. — Jake Maxwell Watts, WSJ, "‘Child of Krakatau’ Brings Death to Hundreds in Indonesian Tsunami," 24 Dec. 2018 Diane Embree of Bali Barong Tours makes the archipelago doable in a three-week visit: from volcano climbing and white-water rafting in Bali to temple hopping in Yogyakarta and searching for Komodo dragons in Komodo. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Tackle Southeast Asia, Country by Country," 13 Nov. 2018 Lava erupting from Hawaii's powerful Kilauea volcano has now destroyed at least 26 homes, more than double the previous figure, officials announced Sunday, citing grim findings from an aerial survey by the fire department. — Mike Arroyo, Fox News, "Hawaii's volcanic eruption has destroyed at least 26 homes, officials say," 2 Oct. 2018 The park closed on May 11 following the initial eruptions from the Kilauea volcano. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Hawaii's Volcano National Park, Closed by Kilauea, Is Finally Reopening," 21 Sep. 2018 This year, the disruption is possibly broader, as lava from Kilauea volcano has destroyed more than 700 homes since May and upended the local economy. — Audrey Mcavoy, The Seattle Times, "Hawaii grapples with lava, hurricane as election nears," 6 Aug. 2018

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.