Tectonic
adjective
Related to the large-scale movement and shape of the Earth's surface.
The Himalayas were formed by tectonic activity.
Often appears as...
- tectonic plates
- tectonic activity
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Huge, large-scale, dramatically transforming.
The company underwent a tectonic shift in its approach to business.
Often appears as...
- tectonic shift
- tectonic change
adjective
Related to the large-scale movement and shape of the Earth's surface.
The Himalayas were formed by tectonic activity.
Often appears as...
- tectonic plates
- tectonic activity
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Huge, large-scale, dramatically transforming.
The company underwent a tectonic shift in its approach to business.
Often appears as...
- tectonic shift
- tectonic change
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Earth's Surface Movements
Use 'tectonic' to describe movements that shape the Earth, like earthquakes.
Researchers study tectonic shifts to understand earthquakes.
Pro Tip 2/3Plate Boundaries
'Tectonic' often refers to the edges of Earth's plates where they meet and interact.
Volcanic activity is common along tectonic boundaries.
Pro Tip 3/3Geography Term
In geography, 'tectonic' is technical and linked to Earth's structure and processes.
Students learn how tectonic processes create mountains and valleys.
Pro Tip 1/3Earth's Surface Movements
Use 'tectonic' to describe movements that shape the Earth, like earthquakes.
Researchers study tectonic shifts to understand earthquakes.
Pro Tip 2/3Plate Boundaries
'Tectonic' often refers to the edges of Earth's plates where they meet and interact.
Volcanic activity is common along tectonic boundaries.
Pro Tip 3/3Geography Term
In geography, 'tectonic' is technical and linked to Earth's structure and processes.
Students learn how tectonic processes create mountains and valleys.
Pro Tip 1/3Earth's Surface Movements
Use 'tectonic' to describe movements that shape the Earth, like earthquakes.
Researchers study tectonic shifts to understand earthquakes.
Pro Tip 2/3Plate Boundaries
'Tectonic' often refers to the edges of Earth's plates where they meet and interact.
Volcanic activity is common along tectonic boundaries.
Pro Tip 3/3Geography Term
In geography, 'tectonic' is technical and linked to Earth's structure and processes.
Students learn how tectonic processes create mountains and valleys.
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Video examples
The Pangaea Pop-up -...
The speed and direction in which these tectonic plates move depends on the temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere below. Scientists are still trying to nail down the driving forces behind this movement, with some theories pointing towards mantle convection, while others are examining the influence of the Earth's rotation
Video examples
Why do buildings fall in...
shaking violently, or even splitting apart. But that's not really how it works. For one thing, most buildings are not located right on a fault line, and the shifting tectonic plates go much deeper than building foundations. So what's actually going on? In fact, the reality of earthquakes and their effect on buildings
Video examples
Changing how we see the...
stuff that we think is so great for life we need to change our habits people we need to do that and you know the other thing is that the planets great explorations great oceanography is wonderful plate tectonics fantastic climate change the sciences you know it's it's it's a wonderful science it
Video examples
The mysterious microbes...
We wanted to ask the very specific Why is it that the carbon dioxide that comes out of this deeply buried oceanic tectonic plate is only coming out of the volcanoes? Why don't we see it distributed throughout the entire subduction zone? Do the microbes have something to do with that?
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
slabs of land called tectonic plates that float on the superheated magma that makes up most of the planets interior magma is the Earth's lifeblood churning restlessly beneath the crust and wherever it can it's trying to burst through it's at these spots that
Video examples
Tom Shannon's...
the world, the situation of the globe. The default image on the object would probably be a high-resolution Earth image. But then one could interact with that and show plate tectonics or global warming issues, or migrations --
Video examples
Vietnam's Ha Long Bay Is...
the rock formations are known as karst for millions of years seashells and sediments fell to an ancient sea floor forming solid rock tectonic activity raised the resulting limestone above water later rain fallen rivers carved
Video examples
This ancient rock is...
known to have sparked life, and the only system able to provide life support for human beings. So why Earth? We know Earth is unique for having plate tectonics, liquid water on its surface
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
across the world though countless others are on the ocean floor most volcanoes whether on land or underwater are located where tectonic plates meet in fact the ring of fire a path that
Video examples
Earth's Hidden Volcanos...
tectonic boundaries in the darkness of the deep water gushes through cracks in the earth's crust known as deep sea vents
Video examples
The Pangaea Pop-up -...
The speed and direction in which these tectonic plates move depends on the temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere below. Scientists are still trying to nail down the driving forces behind this movement, with some theories pointing towards mantle convection, while others are examining the influence of the Earth's rotation
Video examples
Why do buildings fall in...
shaking violently, or even splitting apart. But that's not really how it works. For one thing, most buildings are not located right on a fault line, and the shifting tectonic plates go much deeper than building foundations. So what's actually going on? In fact, the reality of earthquakes and their effect on buildings
Video examples
Changing how we see the...
stuff that we think is so great for life we need to change our habits people we need to do that and you know the other thing is that the planets great explorations great oceanography is wonderful plate tectonics fantastic climate change the sciences you know it's it's it's a wonderful science it
Video examples
The mysterious microbes...
We wanted to ask the very specific Why is it that the carbon dioxide that comes out of this deeply buried oceanic tectonic plate is only coming out of the volcanoes? Why don't we see it distributed throughout the entire subduction zone? Do the microbes have something to do with that?
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
slabs of land called tectonic plates that float on the superheated magma that makes up most of the planets interior magma is the Earth's lifeblood churning restlessly beneath the crust and wherever it can it's trying to burst through it's at these spots that
Video examples
Tom Shannon's...
the world, the situation of the globe. The default image on the object would probably be a high-resolution Earth image. But then one could interact with that and show plate tectonics or global warming issues, or migrations --
Video examples
Vietnam's Ha Long Bay Is...
the rock formations are known as karst for millions of years seashells and sediments fell to an ancient sea floor forming solid rock tectonic activity raised the resulting limestone above water later rain fallen rivers carved
Video examples
This ancient rock is...
known to have sparked life, and the only system able to provide life support for human beings. So why Earth? We know Earth is unique for having plate tectonics, liquid water on its surface
Video examples
Volcanoes 101 PIPE National...
across the world though countless others are on the ocean floor most volcanoes whether on land or underwater are located where tectonic plates meet in fact the ring of fire a path that
Video examples
Earth's Hidden Volcanos...
tectonic boundaries in the darkness of the deep water gushes through cracks in the earth's crust known as deep sea vents
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jessica Henwick
English Actress
I went snorkeling between tectonic plates in Iceland's Silfra fissure in the winter. You have to wear thermal layers and a wet suit and what's called a 'teddy-bear suit' so you don't die of hypothermia. My lips still went blue. That was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life - so beautiful and so quiet.
Quote examples
Adam Hamilton
American Clergyman
Why did the earthquake and tsunami occur in Japan? Was it the act of an angry God? No, it was the result of the movement and collision of the earth's tectonic plates - a process driven by the earth's need to regulate its own internal temperature. Without the process that creates earthquake, our planet could not sustain life.
Quote examples
Mark Pincus
American Businessman
The overall tectonic shifts that are going on in games and more broadly in media are that everything is moving to becoming free, social, and accessible. But we're just at the beginning of that. We can get to a day where short-session play can enhance, if not replace, text messaging as a way to stay in touch with people.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Plate tectonics is not all havoc and destruction. The slow movement of continents and ocean floors recycles carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans back into the atmosphere. Without this slow speed carbon cycle, Earth's temperatures would cool dozens of degrees below your comfort zone.
Quote examples
Andrea Leadsom
British Politician
I don't think the U.K. should leave the E.U. I think it would be a disaster for our economy, and it would lead to a decade of economic and political uncertainty at a time when the tectonic plates of global success are moving.
Quote examples
Robert Duncan
Unfortunately, we haven't found many very old rocks on Earth because our planet's surface is constantly renewed by plate tectonics, coupled with erosion.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
If you think the shifting tectonics of world history might make for a juicy crime fiction backdrop, the last decade or so has proved you right.
Quote examples
Virgil Abloh
American Designer
I'm a kid from Chicago. I know what it was like to see Obama become president. We felt the tectonic plates of the world shift.
Quote examples
Carson Daly
American Entertainer
The plate tectonics of media have shifted where NBC had to become a new media company from an old media company.
Quote examples
Charlie Kirk
American Activist
Candace Owens has caused a tectonic shift in the political landscape.
Quote examples
Jessica Henwick
English Actress
I went snorkeling between tectonic plates in Iceland's Silfra fissure in the winter. You have to wear thermal layers and a wet suit and what's called a 'teddy-bear suit' so you don't die of hypothermia. My lips still went blue. That was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life - so beautiful and so quiet.
Quote examples
Adam Hamilton
American Clergyman
Why did the earthquake and tsunami occur in Japan? Was it the act of an angry God? No, it was the result of the movement and collision of the earth's tectonic plates - a process driven by the earth's need to regulate its own internal temperature. Without the process that creates earthquake, our planet could not sustain life.
Quote examples
Mark Pincus
American Businessman
The overall tectonic shifts that are going on in games and more broadly in media are that everything is moving to becoming free, social, and accessible. But we're just at the beginning of that. We can get to a day where short-session play can enhance, if not replace, text messaging as a way to stay in touch with people.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Plate tectonics is not all havoc and destruction. The slow movement of continents and ocean floors recycles carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans back into the atmosphere. Without this slow speed carbon cycle, Earth's temperatures would cool dozens of degrees below your comfort zone.
Quote examples
Andrea Leadsom
British Politician
I don't think the U.K. should leave the E.U. I think it would be a disaster for our economy, and it would lead to a decade of economic and political uncertainty at a time when the tectonic plates of global success are moving.
Quote examples
Robert Duncan
Unfortunately, we haven't found many very old rocks on Earth because our planet's surface is constantly renewed by plate tectonics, coupled with erosion.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
If you think the shifting tectonics of world history might make for a juicy crime fiction backdrop, the last decade or so has proved you right.
Quote examples
Virgil Abloh
American Designer
I'm a kid from Chicago. I know what it was like to see Obama become president. We felt the tectonic plates of the world shift.
Quote examples
Carson Daly
American Entertainer
The plate tectonics of media have shifted where NBC had to become a new media company from an old media company.
Quote examples
Charlie Kirk
American Activist
Candace Owens has caused a tectonic shift in the political landscape.
Example 1 of 10
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