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Definition of mauna loa
mauna loa
mauna loa Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
American An active shield volcano located on the Big Island of Hawaii in the United States, widely recognized as the largest subaerial volcano in both mass and volume on Earth.
Example
"Geologists continually monitor Mauna Loa for seismic activity because its periodic eruptions can produce exceptionally fast-moving, voluminous lava flows."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Hawaiian language, where 'mauna' means 'mountain' and 'loa' means 'long', literally translating to 'Long Mountain', referring to its massive, gently sloping profile.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mauna loa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mauna loa