First Known Use: 1894
Dictionary
tectonic
adjective tec·ton·ic \tek-ˈtä-nik\
geology : of or relating to changes in the structure of the Earth's surface
: having a large and important effect
Full Definition of TECTONIC
1
: of or relating to tectonics
2
: having a strong and widespread impact <a tectonic shift in voting patterns>
— tec·ton·i·cal·ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of TECTONIC
Late Latin tectonicus, from Greek tektonikos of a builder, from tektōn builder — more at technical
Related to TECTONIC
- Synonyms
- big, consequential, earthshaking, earth-shattering, eventful, historic, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, substantial, important, weighty
- Antonyms
- inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant
Other Geology Terms
Rhymes with TECTONIC
Aaronic, atonic, benthonic, bionic, boronic, Brittonic, Brythonic, bubonic, Byronic, canonic, carbonic, colonic, cyclonic, daimonic, demonic, draconic, dystonic, euphonic, hadronic, harmonic, hedonic, hydronic, iconic, ionic, Ionic, laconic, Masonic, mnemonic, moronic, neutronic, photonic, phytonic, planktonic, platonic, plutonic, pneumonic, pythonic, sardonic, sermonic, Slavonic, subsonic, symphonic, synchronic, Teutonic, transonic
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