1
Core quality
Containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
Example
Basaltic rock covers much of the ocean floor.
basaltic
/bəˈsɔːltɪk/ · buh-SAWL-tikadjective
Containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
Use basaltic to express this relationship precisely: containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
What basaltic Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
The rover encountered terrain with a basaltic composition.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
Rapidly cooled basaltic lava formed fine-grained stone.
Use basaltic Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Basaltic rock covers much of the ocean floor.
The rover encountered terrain with a basaltic composition.
Rapidly cooled basaltic lava formed fine-grained stone.
Precision Matters
Basaltic overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
basaltic
vs.Means containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
morphological
Means relating to the form, structure, or arrangement of organisms, words, or other things.
basaltic
vs.Means containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
amorphous
Means lacking a clear structure, shape, or form.
basaltic
vs.Means containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
intrinsic
Means belonging naturally to the essential character of something rather than arising from external circumstances.
basaltic
vs.Means containing, resembling, or formed from basalt, a dark volcanic rock produced by cooled lava.
celestial
Means relating to the sky, heavens, or objects in outer space.
Test basaltic in Context
The sample is composed of or resembles basalt.
1
Chemical analysis showed that the dark volcanic sample was ___, with a composition typical of cooled lava.