phreatomagmatic
|phre-a-to-mag-mat-ic|
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/ˌfriːətoʊˈmæɡmətɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌfriːətəˈmæɡmətɪk/
water–magma explosive interaction
Etymology
'phreatomagmatic' originates from a combination of the Greek-derived prefix 'phreato-' (from Greek 'phrear, phreat-' meaning 'well, groundwater') and 'magmatic' (from 'magma'), where 'phreato-' refers to water and 'magmatic' refers to molten rock.
'phreatomagmatic' was formed in modern scientific English by combining the roots 'phreato-' + 'magmatic' to describe eruptions produced by magma–water interaction; the components trace back to Greek 'phrear/phreat-' and Greek 'magma'.
Initially coined to denote eruptions specifically driven by the interaction of magma with external water, the term has retained that specialized volcanological meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to, produced by, or characteristic of explosive interaction between magma and external water (groundwater, surface water, or seawater), which fragments the magma and often produces fine ash and base surge deposits.
The phreatomagmatic eruption produced extensive ash beds and a broad maar crater.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/15 03:42