metamorphism

noun/ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfɪzəm/

Frequency rank: #19,573 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)

Meaning

The process by which rocks are changed in composition, texture, or structure due to heat, pressure, or chemical activity.

Illustration for the English word “metamorphism”

Example sentence

The intense heat and pressure caused metamorphism in the buried rock layers over millions of years.

Synonyms & related words

More words in ranks 19,501–19,600