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

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 notes

In plain EnglishMolten rock still underground; once it erupts to the surface it's called lava instead.

Easily confused with

lava →

Common pairings

magma chamber molten magma

Word forms

magmas plural, magmata plural

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Scientists monitor the volcano for signs of rising _____.

Etymology

From Greek mágma ("paste, thick ointment").

Origin: Greek

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.