batholith

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Word: Batholith

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A batholith is a large mass of rock that forms deep underground when hot molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies. It is usually made up of igneous rock, which is formed from the cooling of magma or lava.

Usage Instructions:

• Basic Usage: Use "batholith" when talking about geology or the structure of the Earth. It is a specialized term, so it is often used in scientific contexts.
• Example Sentence: "The Sierra Nevada mountains in California are made up of granite, which is formed from a batholith that cooled deep within the Earth."

Advanced Usage:

• Batholiths are often associated with mountain building and can be very large, sometimes covering hundreds of square kilometers. They can be exposed at the surface over time due to erosion.

Word Variants:

• Adjective Form: Batholithic (e.g., "The batholithic rock formation was studied by geologists.")

Different Meanings:

• The term "batholith" is primarily used in geology and does not have widely accepted alternative meanings in other contexts.

Synonyms:

• There are not many direct synonyms for "batholith," but related terms include:
  • Intrusive rock: Refers to any rock that forms from magma cooling beneath the Earth's surface.
  • Pluton: A broader term that refers to any intrusive igneous rock body, which can include batholiths.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "batholith," as it is a technical term that is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

Summary:

In summary, a batholith is a large, underground mass of igneous rock that has cooled and solidified from magma.

Academic

Noun

1. large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth

Synonyms

• batholite
• pluton
• plutonic rock