Plutonic


[ploo-ton-ik] /pluˈtɒn ɪk/

adjective, Geology.
1.
noting or pertaining to a class of igneous rocks that have solidified far below the earth’s surface.
/pluːˈtɒnɪk/
adjective
1.
(of igneous rocks) derived from magma that has cooled and solidified below the surface of the earth Also abyssal
adj.

“pertaining to or involving intense heat deep in the earth’s crust,” 1796, coined by Irish scientist Richard Kirwin (1733-1812) from comb. form of Pluto (as god of the underworld) + -ic. Especially in reference to early 19c. geological theory (championed by Hutton) that attributed most of the earth’s features to action of internal heat, a theory which triumphed over its rival, neptunism, which attributed them to water. Related: Plutonism; Plutonist.

Read Also:

  • Plutonic rock

    noun See intrusive rock

  • Plutonism

    [ploot-n-iz-uh m] /ˈplut nˌɪz əm/ noun, Geology. 1. the intrusion of magma and associated deep-seated processes within the earth’s crust. 2. (often initial capital letter) the disproven theory that all rocks formed by solidification of a molten mass, promulgated by Scottish geologist James Hutton (1726–97).

  • Plutonium

    [ploo-toh-nee-uh m] /pluˈtoʊ ni əm/ noun, Chemistry, Physics. 1. a transuranic element with a fissile isotope of mass number 239 (plutonium 239) that can be produced from non-fissile uranium 238, as in a breeder reactor. Symbol: Pu; atomic number: 94. /pluːˈtəʊnɪəm/ noun 1. a highly toxic metallic transuranic element. It occurs in trace amounts in […]

  • Plutus

    /ˈpluːtʊs/ noun 1. the Greek god of wealth

  • Pluvial

    [ploo-vee-uh l] /ˈplu vi əl/ adjective 1. of or relating to rain, especially much rain; rainy. 2. Geology. occurring through the action of rain. noun 3. Geology. a rainy period formerly regarded as coeval with a glacial age, but now recognized as episodic and, in the tropics, as characteristic of interglacial ages. /ˈpluːvɪəl/ adjective 1. […]


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