ERUPTION, n [ĭ-rŭp'shən]
(It is an active volcano that is famous for a huge eruption in 1980.)
Meanings:
1. A sudden, often violent outburst.
2. (of volcanoes) pouring out fumes or lava (or a deposit so formed)
Synonym: eructation, extravasations, explosion, outbreak, outburst
PRESSURE, n, vb. [prěsh'ər]
(Pressure built up inside the mountain, and its north side bulged out.)
Meanings:
· a steady force applied to an area
· he used pressure to stop the bleeding; blood pressure; he doesn't work well under pressure;
Synonyms: compression, strain, tension
BULGED, vb., n [bŭlj]
(Pressure built up inside the mountain, and its north side bulged out.)
Meaning:
· v. to swell or curve outward
· e.g. pockets bulging with coins; his eyes bulged with surprise;
Synonyms: extrude, jut, protrude, swell, protuberate
Antonyms: cave in, contract, deflate, flatten, shrink
TRIGGER, vb [trĭg'ər]
(Then, on May 18, a large earthquake triggered the volcanic eruption.)
Meanings:
· vb. an event that caused a reaction; to set off; initiate
· e.g. remarks that triggered bitter debates; trigger a reaction; trigger a gun
Synonyms: activate, actuate, cause, generate, induce, set off, provoke,
Antonym: block, check, halt, stop, extinguish
LAVA, n [lä'və]
(Ash and lava poured out for nine hours.)
Meaning:
· n. (1) melted rock coming from a volcano (2) lava that has cooled and hardened into rock
SWEPT, vb. [swěpt] -- Past tense and past participle of sweep
(It swept across the landscape.)
Meaning:
· vb. moved over or across quickly with force or destruction
· e.g. the wind swept over the plain; the flood waters swept away everything
