asthenosphere
noun/æsˈθɛniəˌsfɪr/
Frequency rank: #19,900 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
The relatively weak, partially molten layer of the upper mantle on which tectonic plates move.
Example sentence
Tectonic plates float on the asthenosphere, which is the semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere.
Synonyms & related words
- mantle
- underlayer
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