diastrophism
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Related to diastrophism: volcanism, epeirogenic
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.
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
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.
diastrophism
the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, etc. — diastrophic, adj.
See also: Geologythe process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, oceans, etc. — diastrophe, n. — diastrophic, adj.
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| 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 |