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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

lava

LAH-vuh
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Lava (noun) means Molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools. Example: “Glowing rivers of lava crept slowly down the mountainside.”

noun
1
Molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools.
"Glowing rivers of lava crept slowly down the mountainside."
"The old lava fields have hardened into black, jagged rock."
"Tourists watched from a safe distance as lava poured from the crater."
2
A deep orange-red colour, named after molten lava.
"She painted the accent wall a fiery lava shade."
"The sofa came in a bold lava colour that brightened the whole room."
"He chose a lava red jumper to stand out in the crowd."

How to use lava

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe hot liquid rock that flows out of an erupting volcano, or the rock it turns into once it cools and hardens.

Common mistake

Below the surface it is called magma; it is only called lava once it reaches the surface and erupts.

Common pairings
flowing lava molten lava lava flow lava rock
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Word forms

Plural
lavas
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Glowing rivers of _____ crept slowly down the mountainside.

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."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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molten rock

Rhymes for lava

Ava Java Cava Sava Nava guava brava slava cassava baklava balaclava Bratislava
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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.

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