lava

Pronunciation

• (UK) (US) enPR: läʹvə, IPA ^(key): /ˈlɑːvə/
• (Canada) IPA ^(key): /ˈlɑːvə/ or /ˈlævə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular lava

Plural lavas

lava

1. (countable) (geology) Lava is the molten rock that is spit out of a volcano when it erupts.

   When the volcano erupted, it spit out lots of lava.

2. (uncountable) (geology) Lava is magma that is found on the surface of the Earth.

Usage notes

Lava is different than magma. Magma is molten rock that is under the surface of the Earth, while lava is molten rock that is on the surface of the Earth. For example, molten rock inside a volcano is magma; when it erupts, it becomes lava.

Related words

• lavalike / lava-like
• lava dome
• lava lamp
• magma