Orogenesis
/ˌɔːrəˈdʒɛnəsɪs/noun
The process of mountain formation, especially by tectonic forces.
Did you know?The same Greek root oros means “mountain” and appears in the names of the Orobians and in scientific terms like orography, tying geology to an ancient landscape vocabulary.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
oros
“mountain”
Ancient Greek
GRK
-genēsis
“origin, creation, becoming”
Late 19th Century
English
orogenesis
“the process of mountain building”
Modern English
English
orogenesis
“mountain formation, especially by tectonic activity”