plate tectonics
noun
plural in form but singular in construction
1
: a theory in geology: the lithosphere of the earth is divided into a small number of plates which float on and travel independently over the mantle and much of the earth's seismic activity occurs at the boundaries of these plates
2
: the process and dynamics of tectonic plate movement
also
: a similar process on a body other than earth compare continental drift
Examples of plate tectonics in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Craton crumbles Earth's crust, or the outermost shell of the planet, has drastically changed throughout geologic history, mostly due to the work of plate tectonics.
—
Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Io was the most volcanic object circling the sun; Europa’s sprightly terrain suggested something akin to plate tectonics had resurfaced the moon’s frozen face and shuffled material from the surface to the depths.
—Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2024
Europa’s surface is a frozen wonderland with a young but complex history, possibly including icy analogs of plate tectonics and volcanoes.
—Mike Sori, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024
Jupiter’s extreme radiation made Europa’s surface oxygen-rich; if plate tectonics helped feed that material into the ocean, the oxygen could foster complex organic molecules and even life.
—David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plate tectonics 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Devika Rao, theweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Io was the most volcanic object circling the sun; Europa’s sprightly terrain suggested something akin to plate tectonics had resurfaced the moon’s frozen face and shuffled material from the surface to the depths.
—Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2024
Europa’s surface is a frozen wonderland with a young but complex history, possibly including icy analogs of plate tectonics and volcanoes.
—Mike Sori, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024
Jupiter’s extreme radiation made Europa’s surface oxygen-rich; if plate tectonics helped feed that material into the ocean, the oxygen could foster complex organic molecules and even life.
—David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plate tectonics
Dictionary Entries Near plate tectonics
Cite this Entry
“Plate tectonics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plate%20tectonics. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share