tectonics

/tɛkˈtɑnɪks/
noun
  1. The study of the Earth's crust and the forces that shape it, including the movement of plates.
    • Modern tectonics uses satellite data to track plate movements.
    • Plate tectonics explains why earthquakes and volcanoes occur where they do.
    • She is a professor of tectonics at the university.
  2. The structure and movement of a planet's crust, especially Earth's.
    • Understanding the tectonics of the region helps predict future earthquakes.
    • The mountain range's tectonics are complex and still being studied.
    • The tectonics of Mars are different from Earth's.
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