Tectonics

3 definitions found

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

  Tectonics \Tec*ton"ics\, n.
     1. The science, or the art, by which implements, vessels,
        dwellings, or other edifices, are constructed, both
        agreeably to the end for which they are designed, and in
        conformity with artistic sentiments and ideas.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Geol. & Phys. Geog.) the branch of geology concerned with
        the rock structures and external forms resulting from the
        deformation of the earth's crust; also, similar studies of
        other planets. Also called {structural geology}.
        [PJC]
  
     {plate tectonics} a geological theory which considers the
        earth's crust as divided into a number of large relatively
        rigid plates, which move relatively independently on the
        more plastic asthenosphere under the influence of magmatic
        upwellings, so as to drift apart, slide past, or collide
        with each other, causing the formation, breakup, or
        merging of continents, and causing volcanism, the building
        of mountain ranges, and the subduction of one plate
        beneath another. In recent decades a large body of data
        have accumulated to support the theory and provide some
        details of the mechanisms at work. One set of supporting
        observations consists of data showing that the continents
        have slowly moved relative to each other over long periods
        of time, a phenomenon called {continental drift}. Africa
        and South America, for example, have apparently moved
        apart from a connected configuration at about 2 to 3 cm
        per year over tens of millions of years.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  tectonics
       n 1: the science of architecture [syn: {architectonics}]
       2: the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of
          the earth's crust [syn: {plate tectonics}, {plate tectonic
          theory}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  45 Moby Thesaurus words for "tectonics":
     anatomy, architectonics, architecture, arrangement, build,
     building, composition, conformation, constitution, construction,
     creation, fabric, fabrication, fashion, fashioning, forging, form,
     format, formation, frame, getup, make, makeup, making, manufacture,
     mold, molding, organic structure, organism, organization, pattern,
     patterning, physique, plan, production, setup, shape, shaping,
     structure, structuring, texture, tissue, warp and woof, weave,
     web