epeirogenesis /ep-ī-rō-jenˈi-sis/ or epeirogeny /-rojˈi-ni/ (geology) noun The building of continents by movement of the earth's crust ORIGIN: Gr ēpeiros mainland, and genesis formation epeirogenˈic or epeirogenetic /-jin-etˈik/ adjective epeirogenic earth movements plural noun Continent-building movements, such as gentle uplift or depression, involving the coastal plain and the recently submerged continental shelf of the great land areas |