tectonics

tectonics
/tek ton"iks/, n. (used with a sing. v.)
1. the science or art of assembling, shaping, or ornamenting materials in construction; the constructive arts in general.
[1625-35; see TECTONIC, -ICS]

* * *

Scientific study of the deformation of the rocks that make up the Earth's crust and the forces that produce such deformation.

It deals with the folding and faulting associated with mountain building; the large-scale, gradual, upward and downward movements of the crust; and sudden horizontal displacements along faults. Other phenomena studied include igneous processes and metamorphism. The chief working principle of tectonics is the concept of plate tectonics. See also continental drift; seafloor spreading.

* * *

      scientific study of the deformation of the rocks that make up the Earth's crust and the forces that produce such deformation. It deals with the folding and faulting associated with mountain building; the large-scale, gradual upward and downward movements of the crust (epeirogenic movements); and sudden horizontal displacements along faults. Other phenomena studied include igneous processes and metamorphism. Tectonics embraces as its chief working principle the concept of plate tectonics (q.v.), a theory that was formulated in the late 1960s by American, Canadian, and British geophysicists to broaden and synthesize the notion of continental drift and the seafloor spreading hypothesis (qq.v.).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tectonics — Tec*ton ics, n. 1. The science, or the art, by which implements, vessels, dwellings, or other edifices, are constructed, both agreeably to the end for which they are designed, and in conformity with artistic sentiments and ideas. [1913 Webster] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tectonics — (n.) 1899 in the geological sense, from TECTONIC (Cf. tectonic) (also see ICS (Cf. ics)); earlier it meant building or constructive arts in general (1850) …   Etymology dictionary

  • tectonics — [tek tän′iks] pl.n. [see TECTONIC] 1. the constructive arts in general; esp., the art of making things that have both beauty and usefulness 2. [with sing. v.] Geol. the study of the earth s crustal structure and the forces that produce changes in …   English World dictionary

  • Tectonics — This article discusses the geologic usage, for the philosophical or architectural usage see: Architectonics : Or see plate tectonics . [ plate tectonics (click on map for more details)] Tectonics, (from the Greek for builder , tekton), is a field …   Wikipedia

  • tectonics — [[t]tektɒ̱nɪks[/t]] see plate tectonics …   English dictionary

  • tectonics — n.pl. (usu. treated as sing.) 1 Archit. the art and process of producing practical and aesthetically pleasing buildings. 2 Geol. the study of large scale structural features (cf. plate tectonics) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tectonics zones of Pakistan — [ 2005 Kashmir earthquake occurred at the northern tip of the Indian plate.] Tectonics zones of Pakistan are the Eurasian Plate, Arabian Plate and Indian Plate which is part of Indo Australian Plate.External links*… …   Wikipedia

  • tectonics geology — tektonika statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Geologijos šaka, tirianti Žemės plutos ir viršutinės mantijos sandarą, judesius, deformaciją ir raidą, uolienų slūgsojimo formas, Žemės plutos judėjimo ryšį su magnetizmu.… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • tectonics — noun plural but singular or plural in construction Date: 1899 1. geological structural features as a whole 2. a. a branch of geology concerned with the structure of the crust of a planet (as earth) or moon and especially with the formation of… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tectonics — noun The study of crustal plates and other large scale structural features of the Earth. See Also: tectonic …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”