igneous
adjective
ig·ne·ous ˈig-nē-əs 
1
a
: formed by solidification of magma
igneous rock
b
: relating to, resulting from, or suggestive of the intrusion or extrusion of magma or volcanic activity
2
: of, relating to, or resembling fire : fiery
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web During its first scientific campaign, the rover explored the crater’s floor, finding igneous rock. 
Julia Musto, Fox News, 16 Sep. 2022 In an early surprise, the rover found igneous rock well away from the rim of Jezero Crater where scientists had expected to find sedimentary lakebed layers. William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a Siberian-river-running, arc-welding, code-writing, patent-holding, company-founding, asteroid-exploring, igneous petrologist professor. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 2 July 2022 Studies have consistently implicated the Siberian Traps igneous event as the ultimate instigator of the end-Permian mass extinction, in large part because of the composition of the rocks in the area. Chris Mays, Scientific American, 23 June 2022 The granite was formed as intrusive igneous rock approximately 350 million years ago. Walter Nicklin, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Devils Tower is a massive, 867-foot column of igneous rock towering above the Wyoming plains. Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2022 Those observations revealed large grains of olivine, an igneous mineral that can accumulate at the bottom of a large lava flow. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 The castle's outer walls, built from stern igneous rock, and the black-walled keep stand in stark contrast to the 800 cherry blossom trees that paint its gardens pink each spring. CNN, 19 Jan. 2022 See More
Julia Musto, Fox News, 16 Sep. 2022 In an early surprise, the rover found igneous rock well away from the rim of Jezero Crater where scientists had expected to find sedimentary lakebed layers. William Harwood, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 Lindy Elkins-Tanton is a Siberian-river-running, arc-welding, code-writing, patent-holding, company-founding, asteroid-exploring, igneous petrologist professor. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 2 July 2022 Studies have consistently implicated the Siberian Traps igneous event as the ultimate instigator of the end-Permian mass extinction, in large part because of the composition of the rocks in the area. Chris Mays, Scientific American, 23 June 2022 The granite was formed as intrusive igneous rock approximately 350 million years ago. Walter Nicklin, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Devils Tower is a massive, 867-foot column of igneous rock towering above the Wyoming plains. Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2022 Those observations revealed large grains of olivine, an igneous mineral that can accumulate at the bottom of a large lava flow. New York Times, 15 Feb. 2022 The castle's outer walls, built from stern igneous rock, and the black-walled keep stand in stark contrast to the 800 cherry blossom trees that paint its gardens pink each spring. CNN, 19 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin igneus, from ignis fire; akin to Sanskrit agni fire
First Known Use
1664, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
igneous
adjective
ig·ne·ous ˈig-nē-əs
: formed by hardening of melted mineral material within the earth
igneous rock
igneous
adjective
as in molten
having to do with or suggestive of fire an igneous desert atmosphere igneous events such as volcanic eruptions Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- molten
- ardent
- heated
- fiery
- hot
- tropical
- boiling
- red
- searing
- warmed
- superheated
- scorching
- warm
- blazing
- broiling
- glowing
- seething
- burning
- sultry
- sweltering
- sizzling
- roasting
- scalding
- overheated
- reheated
- torrid
- piping hot
- fervid
- white-hot
- fervent
- ultrahot
- toasty
- red-hot
- inflamed
- warmish
- feverish
- steamy
- flushed
- muggy
- enflamed
- canicular
- snug
- summery
- summerlike
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cool
- chilly
- chill
- snowy
- frosty
- wintry
- wintery
- nippy
- subzero
- cooled
- glacial
- unheated
- coolish
- snappy
- chilled
- refrigerated
- coldish
- subfreezing
- icy
- cold
- arctic
- frozen
- shivering
- freezing
- benumbed
- frigid
- iced
- numb
- bitter
- blizzardly
- algid
- ice-cold
- bone-chilling