batholith

[ bath-uh-lith ]
/ ˈbæθ ə lɪθ /

noun Geology.

a large body of intrusive igneous rock believed to have crystallized at a considerable depth below the earth's surface; pluton.

Origin of batholith

First recorded in 1900–05; batho- + -lith

OTHER WORDS FROM batholith

bath·o·lith·ic, adjective

Words nearby batholith

bathing trunk nevus, bathing-machine, bathmotropic, batho-, bathochromic, batholith, bathometer, bathonian, bathophilous, bathophobia, bathos

Example sentences from the Web for batholith

  • Upon the southwestern border of the batholith the number of aplitic dikes greatly increases.

    The Andes of Southern Peru |Isaiah Bowman

British Dictionary definitions for batholith

batholith

batholite (ˈbæθəˌlaɪt)

/ (ˈbæθəlɪθ) /

noun

a very large irregular-shaped mass of igneous rock, esp granite, formed from an intrusion of magma at great depth, esp one exposed after erosion of less resistant overlying rocks

Derived forms of batholith

batholithic or batholitic, adjective

Scientific definitions for batholith

batholith
[ băth′ə-lĭth′ ]

A large mass of igneous rock that has intruded and melted surrounding strata at great depths. Batholiths usually have a surface area of over 100 km2 (38 mi2).