diastrophism

[ dahy-as-truh-fiz-uh m ]
/ daɪˈæs trəˌfɪz əm /

noun Geology.

Also called tectonism. the action of the forces that cause the earth's crust to be deformed, producing continents, mountains, changes of level, etc.
any such resulting deformation.

Origin of diastrophism

1880–85; < Greek diastroph(ḗ) a distortion (see dia-, strophe) + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM diastrophism

di·a·stroph·ic [dahy-uh-strof-ik, -stroh-fik] /ˌdaɪ əˈstrɒf ɪk, -ˈstroʊ fɪk/, adjective di·a·stroph·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby diastrophism

diastolic, diastolic murmur, diastolic pressure, diastolic thrill, diastrophic dysplasia, diastrophism, diastyle, diasystem, diataxia, diatessaron, diathermal

Example sentences from the Web for diastrophic

  • Nor was the violent volcanic and diastrophic activity in the Miocene associated with extreme climates.

    Climatic Changes |Ellsworth Huntington

British Dictionary definitions for diastrophic

diastrophism
/ (daɪˈæstrəˌfɪzəm) /

noun

the process of movement and deformation of the earth's crust that gives rise to large-scale features such as continents, ocean basins, and mountains See also orogeny, epeirogeny

Derived forms of diastrophism

diastrophic (ˌdaɪəˈstrɒfɪk), adjective

Word Origin for diastrophism

C19: from Greek diastrophē a twisting; see dia-, strophe