batholith

[ bath-uh-lith ]

nounGeology.
  1. a large body of intrusive igneous rock believed to have crystallized at a considerable depth below the earth's surface; pluton.

Origin of batholith

1
First recorded in 1900–05; batho- + -lith

Other words from batholith

  • bath·o·lith·ic, adjective

Words Nearby batholith

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How to use batholith in a sentence

  • Upon the southwestern border of the batholith the number of aplitic dikes greatly increases.

British Dictionary definitions for batholith

batholith

batholite (ˈbæθəˌlaɪt)

/ (ˈbæθəlɪθ) /


noun
  1. a very large irregular-shaped mass of igneous rock, esp granite, formed from an intrusion of magma at great depth, esp one exposed after erosion of less resistant overlying rocks

Derived forms of batholith

  • batholithic or batholitic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for batholith

batholith

[ băthə-lĭth′ ]


  1. A large mass of igneous rock that has intruded and melted surrounding strata at great depths. Batholiths usually have a surface area of over 100 km2 (38 mi2).

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