lava
lava Lexical Profile
lava Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Molten rock that erupts from a volcano or fissure onto the Earth's surface.
"As the volcano erupted, a slow-moving river of bright orange lava began to flow down its slopes and destroy the surrounding vegetation."
The solid rock formed when molten volcanic material cools and solidifies.
"The island's rugged coastline is composed entirely of hardened black lava that has been battered by the ocean waves."
Word Nuance & Usage
Lava is frequently confused with magma; however, in geological terms, magma refers to molten rock that remains underground, while lava is molten rock that has broken through the Earth's surface.
• Rhymes for lava
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Italian (specifically Neapolitan) 'lava' meaning 'torrent' or 'stream', derived from the Latin 'labes' meaning 'a fall' or 'sliding down'. It was first applied to describe the flowing molten rock erupting from Mount Vesuvius.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.