geyser
geyser Lexical Profile
geyser Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A rare kind of hot spring that is under pressure and erupts, sending jets of water and steam into the air.
"Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park is one of the most widely recognized geysers in the world due to its highly predictable eruptions."
British A gas-fired water heater through which water flows as it is rapidly heated, often installed in bathrooms.
"We had to wait for the plumber because the old geyser above the bathtub finally broke down."
• verb
To gush or spout out rapidly and forcibly in a tall column.
"When the construction crew accidentally ruptured the main line, highly pressurized water geysered into the sky."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'geyser' also refers to a domestic water heater. Scientifically, it is distinct from a general hot spring because it features intermittent explosive eruptions driven by hydrothermal pressure.
• Rhymes for geyser
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 18th century: from Icelandic 'Geysir', the name of a notable hot spring in southwestern Iceland, derived from the Old Norse verb 'geysa' meaning 'to gush'.