Plutonic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Plutonic \Plu*ton"ic\, a. [Cf. F. plutonique. See {Pluto}.]
     1. Of or pertaining to Pluto; Plutonian; hence, pertaining to
        the interior of the earth; subterranean.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Of, pertaining to, or designating, the system of the


        Plutonists; igneous; as, the Plutonic theory.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Plutonic action} (Geol.), the influence of volcanic heat and
        other subterranean forces under pressure.
  
     {Plutonic rocks} (Geol.), granite, porphyry, and some other
        igneous rocks, supposed to have consolidated from a melted
        state at a great depth from the surface. Cf. {Intrusive
        rocks}, under {Intrusive}.
  
     {Plutonic theory}. (Geol.) See {Plutonism}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  plutonic
       adj : of igneous rock that has solidified beneath the earth's
             surface; granite or diorite or gabbro [syn: {irruptive},
              {eruptive}]