crust
101Abundance of elements in Earth's crust — This table shows the abundance of elements in Earth s crust. Numbers show percentage in weight.Note that numbers are estimates, and they will vary depending on source and method of estimation. Order of magnitude of data can roughly be relied upon …
102desert crust — A crust formed by microbial binding of sand grains in the surface zone of desert soil; crust formation primarily involves cyanobacteria …
103upper crust — upper crust, adj. 1. the topmost layer of crust, as of a pie. 2. Informal. the highest social class. [1425 75; 1830 35 for def. 2; late ME] * * * …
104upper crust — noun a) The topmost layer of a bread, pastry dish, or other item with a hardened coating. She went to get her tarts . . . but some one had stolen all the fruit out of them by lifting up the upper crust. b) The social elite …
105oceanic crust — The outer layer of the Earth surface that lies beneath the oceans. As oceanic crust is denser than continental crust it generally lies below sea level …
106upper crust — n [singular] informal the group of people who belong to the highest social class >upper crust adj …
107cryptogamic crust — A type of microbiotic crust consisting of a thin, biotic layer at the ground surface composed predominantly of cryptogams (i.e., algae, lichen, mosses, lichens and liverworts); most commonly found in semiarid or arid environments. Compare:… …
108microbiotic crust — A thin, surface layer (crust) of soil particles bound together primarily by living organisms and their organic byproducts; thickness can range up from < 1 cm up to 10 cm; aerial coverage of the ground surface can range from 10 to 100 %.… …
109upper crust — The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** This term refers to the higher levels of society, the upper class or the aristocracy. William hides his working class background and… …
110upper crust — richest, most famous or important people in a certain place, the highest class The private club was full of what looked like the upper crust of the city. Digest 22/2002 the highest level of society, i.e. people who are separated from ordinary… …
