vol·ca·no

(vŏl-kā′nō)

n. pl. vol·ca·noes or vol·ca·nos

a. An opening in the earth's crust from which lava, ash, and hot gases flow or are ejected during an eruption.

b. A similar opening on the surface of another celestial object.

2. A usually cone-shaped mountain formed from the materials issuing from such an opening.

[Italian, from Spanish volcán or Portuguese volcão, both probably from Latin volcānus, vulcānus, fire, flames, from Volcānus, Vulcan.]

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.

Volcanoes

See also geology; mountains.

volcanism

the phenomena connected with volcanoes and volcanic activity. Also vulcanism. — volcanist, n.

volcanology

Geology. the scientific study of volcanoes and volcanic phenomena. Also vulcanology. — volcanologist, n. — volcanologic, volcanological, adj.

Translations

vulcani

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

It is supposed that these vast plains are strewn with blocks of lava from the neighboring volcanoes on its right, Ptolemy, Purbach, Arzachel.

View in context

Subsequently we saw the lofty-peaked Corcovado -- well deserving the name of "el famoso Corcovado." Thus we beheld, from one point of view, three great active volcanoes, each about seven thousand feet high.

View in context

Volcanoes, so plentiful in the first days of the world, are being extinguished by degrees; the internal heat is weakened, the temperature of the lower strata of the globe is lowered by a perceptible quantity every century to the detriment of our globe, for its heat is its life."

View in context

Here palms, alpacas, and volcanoes; sun's disks and stars; ecliptics, horns-of-plenty, and rich banners waving, are in luxuriant profusion stamped; so that the precious gold seems almost to derive an added preciousness and enhancing glories, by passing through those fancy mints, so Spanishly poetic.

View in context

At present, there are 365 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan.

Scientists expect mud volcano eruptions

Mud volcanoes erupt one to three times annually around this time of year in Pingtung, reported CNA.

Video shows mud volcano erupt in S. Taiwan

"Why do volcanoes have cool craters?" asked a young patron at the Grayslake Area Public Library.

Eruptions, explosions, magma help form volcano craters Eruptions, explosions, magma help form volcano craters Eruptions, explosions, magma help form volcano craters Babowice: Volcanoes in the U.S. remain active

Volcanoes target Olympics, SEAG !-- -- Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) - December 30, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines Pinoy rugby players seek to build on their 2018 success as they brace for a hectic year ahead highlighted by the qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics and the golden bid at the Southeast Asian Games.

Volcanoes target Olympics, SEAG

The Philippine Volcanoes, backed by headline sponsors SEAPAC Philippines (SPI) and First Pacific, banked on a second-half rally to secure the first match in the Division 1 Asia Rugby Championships.

PH Volcanoes rally, edge out Singapore

This explains why some of the other Hawaiian islands have dormant volcanoes. They were once over the hotspot millions of years ago, but have since moved away.

Hawaii's Kilauea Erupts After Earthquake

This was to hold a forum on the volcanoes of Bicol upon the invitation of the university's Institute of Bicol History and Culture in cooperation with the university press.

Degendering a volcano