Lava
/ΛlΙΛ.vΙ/noun
Molten rock that erupts from a volcano or fissure.
Did you know?In ancient Roman times, 'lava' was used to describe the flow of water, highlighting its transformative power long before it was associated with molten rock.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
lavare
βto wash or bathe, emphasizing the fluid nature of the substance.β
15th Century
Italian
lava
βthe term evolved to describe the molten rock flowing from volcanoes.β
17th Century
Modern English
lava
βadopted into English from Italian, maintaining its volcanic definition.β
Late 18th Century
English
lava
βbecame widely used in geological contexts to describe volcanic eruptions.β