di·as·tro·phism
(dī-ăs′trə-fĭz′əm)n. The process of deformation by which the major features of the earth's crust, including continents, mountains, ocean beds, folds, and faults, are formed.
[From Greek
diastrophē,
distortion, from
diastrephein,
to distort :
dia-,
apart; see
dia- +
strephein,
to twist; see
streb(h)- in
Indo-European roots.]
di′a·stroph′ic (dī′ə-strŏf′ĭk, -strō′fĭk) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
diastrophism
(daɪˈæstrəˌfɪzəm) n (Geological Science) the process of movement and deformation of the earth's crust that gives rise to large-scale features such as continents, ocean basins, and mountains. Also called:
tectonism See also
orogeny,
epeirogeny [C19: from Greek diastrophē a twisting; see dia-, strophe]
diastrophic adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
di•as•tro•phism
(daɪˈæs trəˌfɪz əm)
n. the action of the forces that cause the earth's crust to be deformed, producing continents, mountains, etc.
[1880–85; < Greek
diastroph(ḗ) a distortion (n. derivative of
diastréphein to distort; see
dia-,
strophe) +
-ism]
di`a•stroph′ic (-əˈstrɒf ɪk, -ˈstroʊ fɪk) adj.
di`a•stroph′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
diastrophism
the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, etc. — diastrophic, adj.
See also: Geology
the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, oceans, etc. — diastrophe, n. — diastrophic, adj.
See also: Earth-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.