Volcano definition
- If the amount of magma is significant enough, then the magma rises above the surface of the ocean. This is known as an island. When the two plates collide and one plate forces the other plate beneath it, a different reaction occurs.
- If this happens, then the friction that is caused during this reaction makes the plate melt that is beneath the other plate. This then causes magma to rise up, and this creates a volcano. The volcanoes that form by this method are usually the most dangerous and the most volatile ones.
- Their shape is created by a significant amount of lava running down the surface of the volcano, and then cooling. The eruptions of shield volcanoes aren’t as severe as other volcanoes. When a shield volcano erupts, gases escape and the lava rise to the surface to gently flow down the sides of the volcano.
An example of a volcano is Mount St. Helens in Washington state in the U.S.
An example of a volcano is the eruption of Krakatau in 1883 and the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, the two largest explosive and destructive volcanoes since the 1800s.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of volcano
- Italian from Spanish volcán or Portuguese volcão both probably from Latin volcānus, vulcānus fire, flames from Volcānus Vulcan
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary