tectonic
1 synonym for tectonic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to the large-scale structure and movement of the Earth's crust.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tectonic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tectonic plates
tectonic shift
tectonic activity
Etymology
From Greek tektonikos ("pertaining to building"), from tekton ("builder, carpenter"). Its geological sense dates from the 1890s.
Full origin of tectonic →Frequently asked questions
What does “tectonic” mean?
The word “tectonic” means relating to the large-scale structure and movement of the Earth's crust. In plain terms, usually refers to the movement of the Earth's crust, or figuratively to a huge, sweeping change.
How do you use “tectonic” in a sentence?
Here is “tectonic” used in a sentence: “The earthquake was caused by tectonic plate movement.”
What part of speech is “tectonic”?
“Tectonic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “tectonic” come from?
The word “tectonic” dates back to around 1890 and comes from Greek. From Greek tektonikos ("pertaining to building"), from tekton ("builder, carpenter"). Its geological sense dates from the 1890s.
How many meanings does “tectonic” have?
“Tectonic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to the large-scale structure and movement of the Earth's crust.
Related words
lithotectonic
tectonics
