noun
Uncommon
magma
MAG-muh
Magma (noun) means Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, which becomes lava when it erupts. Example: “Scientists monitor the volcano for signs of rising magma.”
noun
1
Molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, which becomes lava when it erupts.
"Scientists monitor the volcano for signs of rising magma."
"The chamber of magma had been building pressure for decades."
How to use magma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMolten rock still underground; once it erupts to the surface it's called lava instead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
magma chamber
molten magma
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Word forms
- Plural
- magmas, magmata
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scientists monitor the volcano for signs of rising _____.
Etymology
From Greek mágma ("paste, thick ointment").
Frequently asked questions
What does “magma” mean?
The word “magma” means molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, which becomes lava when it erupts. In plain terms, molten rock still underground; once it erupts to the surface it's called lava instead.
How do you pronounce “magma”?
“Magma” is pronounced MAG-muh (/ˈmæɡ.mə/ in IPA).
How do you use “magma” in a sentence?
Here is “magma” used in a sentence: “Scientists monitor the volcano for signs of rising magma.”
What part of speech is “magma”?
“Magma” is a noun.
Where does the word “magma” come from?
The word “magma” comes from Greek. From Greek mágma ("paste, thick ointment").
Is “magma” a common word?
“Magma” is an uncommon word in modern English.
