Illustration of volcano
- 1 cinder cone
- 2 shield volcano
- 3 stratovolcano
volcano
noun
vol·ca·no
väl-ˈkā-(ˌ)nō 
vȯl-
plural volcanoes or volcanos
1
: a vent in the crust of the earth or another planet or a moon from which usually molten or hot rock and steam issue
also
: a hill or mountain composed wholly or in part of the ejected material
2
: something of explosively violent potential
Examples of volcano in a Sentence
The volcano last erupted 25 years ago.
after months of tension the roommates' living situation was a volcano
Recent Examples on the Web
Studying active volcanoes can help scientists understand how a planet’s interior can shape its crust and affect its habitability over the years.
—
Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 May 2024
The findings also may help to explain the formation of atmospheric plumes of hot gas and rock particles erupted by the volcano, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 May 2024
The Owyhee Canyonlands, with stunning red gulches, winding rivers and a moon-like landscape where a volcano with a caldera once 600 times larger than Mount St. Helens erupted, stands as the largest unprotected wilderness area in the American West.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
The Sutter Buttes are the remnants of a volcano that was active more than 1.4 million years ago.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for volcano 
Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 May 2024
The findings also may help to explain the formation of atmospheric plumes of hot gas and rock particles erupted by the volcano, the researchers said.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 27 May 2024
The Owyhee Canyonlands, with stunning red gulches, winding rivers and a moon-like landscape where a volcano with a caldera once 600 times larger than Mount St. Helens erupted, stands as the largest unprotected wilderness area in the American West.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
The Sutter Buttes are the remnants of a volcano that was active more than 1.4 million years ago.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for volcano
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'volcano.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near volcano
Cite this Entry
“Volcano.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/volcano. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
volcano
noun
vol·ca·no
väl-ˈkā-nō
vȯl-
plural volcanoes or volcanos
: a vent in the earth's crust from which melted or hot rock and steam come out
also
: a hill or mountain composed entirely or in part of the material thrown out
Etymology
from Italian or Spanish; Italian vulcano "volcano," from Spanish vulcán, from Latin Volcanus, Vulcanus "Vulcan (Roman god of fire)"
Word Origin
The ancient Greeks and Romans had many gods and goddesses. Each of these deities was in charge of a special kind of work or an aspect of nature. Many of the happenings in nature were explained in myth as the actions of one or more of these gods or goddesses. The Roman god of fire was known as Vulcanus in Latin (Vulcan in English). He was thought to live inside Mount Etna, a volcano on the island of Sicily. Vulcan was a giant who worked as a blacksmith, forging the thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods. The smoke and occasional fiery rocks and lava that came from Mount Etna were thought to be from Vulcan's forge. That is how his name came to be applied to a mountain that sometimes spews forth fire and smoke.
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