Tectonic Definition

tĕk-tŏnĭk

adjective

Designating, of, or pertaining to changes in the structure of the earth's crust, the forces responsible for such deformation, or the external forms produced.

Webster's New World

Of or relating to a tectonic plate or plates.

American Heritage

Of or having to do with building; constructional.

Webster's New World

Architectural.

Webster's New World

(geology) Of, relating to, or caused by large-scale movements of the Earth's lithosphere.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
architectonic

Origin of Tectonic

1650s, in sense of building, from Late Latin tectonicus, from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikos, “pertaining to building"), from Ancient Greek τέκτων (tekton, “carpenter, joiner, maker"), from Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to make") (from which also texture). In sense of geology, attested 1894. Surface analysis is τέκτων (tekton) +"Ž -ic (“pertaining to").

From Wiktionary
Late Latin tectonicus from Greek tektonikos from tektōn builder teks- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition