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lithosphere - 6 dictionary results

lith⋅o⋅sphere

  [lith-uh-sfeer]
Use lithosphere in a Sentence
–noun Geology.
1. the solid portion of the earth (distinguished from atmosphere, hydrosphere ).
2. the crust and upper mantle of the earth.
Origin:
1885–90; litho- + -sphere

Related forms:
lith⋅o⋅spher⋅ic  [lith-uh-sfer-ik] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lith·o·sphere   (lĭth'ə-sfîr')   
n.  The outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, approximately 100 km (62 mi.) thick.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Lithosphere

Lith"o*sphere\, n. [Litho- + sphere.] (Phys. Geog.) (a) The solid earth as distinguished from its fluid envelopes, the hydrosphere and atmosphere. (b) The outer part of the solid earth, the portion undergoing change through the gradual transfer of material by volcanic eruption, the circulation of underground water, and the process of erosion and deposition. It is, therefore, regarded as a third mobile envelope comparable with the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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lithosphere [(lith-uh-sfeer)]

The outer layer of the Earth, comprising the crust and the upper part of the mantle. The lithosphere is about sixty miles thick.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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lithosphere 
"solid part of the earth's surface," from Gk. lithos "stone" + sphere.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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lithosphere   (lĭth'ə-sfîr')  Pronunciation Key 


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The outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. It is about 55 km (34 mi) thick beneath the oceans and up to about 200 km (124 mi) thick beneath the continents. The high velocity with which seismic waves propagate through the lithosphere suggests that it is completely solid. Compare asthenosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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