[dahy-as-truh-fiz-uh
m] 
| 1. | Also called tectonism. the action of the forces that cause the earth's crust to be deformed, producing continents, mountains, changes of level, etc. |
| 2. | any such resulting deformation. |
| di·as·tro·phism (dī-ās'trə-fĭz'əm) n. The process of deformation by which the major features of the earth's crust, including continents, mountains, ocean beds, folds, and faults, are formed. [From Greek diastrophē, distortion, from diastrephein, to distort : dia-, apart; see dia- + strephein, to twist; see streb(h)- in Indo-European roots.] di'a·stroph'ic (dī'ə-strŏf'ĭk, -strō'fĭk) adj. |
