noun
basalt
BAS-olt
noun
1
A dark, dense volcanic rock formed when lava cools quickly; it makes up much of the ocean floor.
"The cliffs were made of black basalt columns formed by ancient lava flows."
"Basalt is one of the most common rock types on Earth."
How to Use Basalt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hard, dark rock that comes from cooled lava.
Common pairings
basalt columns
basalt rock
volcanic basalt
Word Forms
basalts plural
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The cliffs were made of black _____ columns formed by ancient lava flows.
Etymology
From Latin basaltes, likely a scribal error for basanites, from Greek basanos, "touchstone" — itself borrowed from an Egyptian word for a hard stone.