Tectonic — Tec*ton ic, a. [L. tectonicus, Gr. ?, fr. ?, ?, a carpenter, builder.] 1. Of or pertaining to building or construction; architectural. [1913 Webster] 2. (Biol.) Structural. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 3. (Geol. & Phys. Geog.) Of, pert. to, or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tectonic — (adj.) 1650s, of or relating to building, from L.L. tectonicus, from Gk. tektonikos pertaining to building, from tekton (gen. tektonos) builder, carpenter, from PIE root *tek to make (see TEXTURE (Cf. texture)). The geological sense is recorded… … Etymology dictionary
tectonic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) Geology of or relating to the structure of the earth s crust and the large scale processes which take place within it. 2) of or relating to building or construction. DERIVATIVES tectonically adverb. ORIGIN Greek tektonikos, from… … English terms dictionary
tectonic — [tek tän′ik] adj. [LL tectonicus < Gr tektonikos < tektōn, carpenter, builder: see TECHNIC] 1. of or having to do with building; constructional 2. architectural 3. designating, of, or pertaining to changes in the structure of the earth s… … English World dictionary
tectonic — adjective a) of or relating to construction or to architecture b) of, relating to, or caused by large scale movements of the Earths lithosphere See Also: plate tectonics, tectonic keratoplasty, tectonic plate, tectonics … Wiktionary
tectonic — [[t]tektɒ̱nɪk[/t]] ADJ: ADJ n Tectonic means relating to the structure of the earth s surface or crust. [TECHNICAL] ...the tectonic plates of the Pacific region which are separating from the East Pacific Ridge … English dictionary
tectonic — adjective Etymology: Late Latin tectonicus, from Greek tektonikos of a builder, from tektōn builder more at technical Date: 1894 1. of or relating to tectonics 2. having a strong and widespread impact < a tectonic shift in voting patterns > •… … New Collegiate Dictionary
tectonic — tectonically, adv. /tek ton ik/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to building or construction; constructive; architectural. 2. Geol. a. pertaining to the structure of the earth s crust. b. referring to the forces or conditions within the earth that cause … Universalium
tectonic — Relating to variations in structure in the eye, particularly the cornea. [G. tektonikos, relating to building] * * * tec·ton·ic (tek tonґik) [Gr. tektonikos skilled in building] pertaining to construction; used in denoting the mechanics… … Medical dictionary
tectonic — /tɛkˈtɒnɪk / (say tek tonik) adjective 1. relating to building or construction; constructive; architectural. 2. Geology a. relating to the structure of the earth s crust. b. relating to the forces or conditions within the earth that cause… …
