igneous
UK: ˈɪɡniəs | US: ˈɪɡniəs
adj. relating to or resembling fire
adj. (geology) formed by solidification from a molten state, typically referring to rocks
The word "igneous" traces back to the Latin root igneus, meaning "of fire," derived from ignis (fire). The suffix -ous (from Latin -osus) denotes "full of" or "having the quality of." In geology, the term was adopted in the 17th century to describe rocks formed through volcanic activity or the cooling of magma, reflecting their fiery origin. The morpheme igne preserves the original Latin spelling, while -ous is a common English adjectival suffix.
Igneous rocks like basalt are formed from cooled lava.
The geologist studied the igneous formations to understand volcanic history.
The landscape was dominated by dark, igneous outcrops.
Granite is a coarse-grained igneous rock used in construction.
The museum displayed a collection of rare igneous minerals.