diastrophism

di·as·tro·phism  (d-str-fzm)

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.

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[From Greek diastroph, distortion, from diastrephein, to distort : dia-, apart; see dia- + strephein, to twist; see streb(h)- in Indo-European roots.]

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dia·strophic (d-strfk, -strfk) adj.

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diastrophism

the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, etc. — diastrophic, adj.

See also: Geology

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the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, oceans, etc. — diastrophe, n. — diastrophic, adj.

See also: Earth

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

diastrophism - the process of deformation that produces continents and ocean basins in the earth's crust geologic process, geological process - (geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified