lava
1 synonym for lava, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
molten rock
How to use lava
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
flowing lava
molten lava
lava flow
lava rock
Etymology
From Italian lava, originally a dialect word from the Naples area meaning a stream that overflows onto the street, likely tracing back to Latin labes, "a fall or collapse."
Full origin of lava →Frequently asked questions
What does “lava” mean?
The word “lava” means molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools. In plain terms, the hot liquid rock that flows out of an erupting volcano, or the rock it turns into once it cools and hardens.
How do you pronounce “lava”?
“Lava” is pronounced LAH-vuh (/ˈlɑvə/ in IPA).
How do you use “lava” in a sentence?
Here is “lava” used in a sentence: “Glowing rivers of lava crept slowly down the mountainside.”
What part of speech is “lava”?
“Lava” is a noun.
Where does the word “lava” come from?
The word “lava” comes from Latin. From Italian lava, originally a dialect word from the Naples area meaning a stream that overflows onto the street, likely tracing back to Latin labes, "a fall or collapse.".
Is “lava” a common word?
“Lava” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “lava” have?
“Lava” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools.
What is the difference between lava and magma?
Magma is molten rock while it is still underground, and it becomes lava once it erupts onto the earth's surface. So lava specifically refers to the material after eruption, whether still molten or already cooled into solid rock.
Is lava always red or orange?
Freshly erupted lava that is still very hot often glows a deep orange-red, which is also where the colour name lava comes from. Once it cools, however, lava solidifies into dark rock and no longer glows.
What colour is the shade called lava?
The colour lava is a deep orange-red, named directly after the glowing colour of molten volcanic rock. It is used as a descriptive colour name in design and fashion contexts.
