spatter cone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “spatter cone” mean?
A small, steep-sided volcanic cone built from lava fragments that were ejected while still molten and welded together upon landing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, steep-sided volcanic cone built from lava fragments that were ejected while still molten and welded together upon landing.
A specific, minor volcanic landform often found on or near larger volcanic features like lava flows or shield volcanoes; can also be used metaphorically for any similar conical structure formed by splattering material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling conventions follow standard British/American rules for surrounding text.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects, used almost exclusively in geological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “spatter cone” in a Sentence
The [lava/eruption] formed a spatter cone.Spatter cones are found on the [lava flow/flank].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spatter cone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lava began to spatter-cone around the main vent.
- The fountain will spatter-cone if the fragments are sufficiently fluid.
American English
- The lava started to spatter-cone around the main vent.
- The fountain will spatter-cone if the fragments are fluid enough.
adjective
British English
- The spatter-cone morphology is distinctive.
- We studied the spatter-cone formation process.
American English
- The spatter-cone morphology is distinct.
- We studied the spatter-cone formation process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Common in geology, earth science, and physical geography papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
The primary context; used to describe specific volcanic features during fieldwork, research, and monitoring reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spatter cone”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spatter cone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spatter cone”
- Confusing it with 'cinder cone' (made from cooler, solid fragments).
- Misspelling as 'splatter cone' (though 'splatter' is a recognized variant).
- Using it as a general term for any small hill.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, they are not dangerous as they form during relatively mild, effusive eruptions. However, they are part of an active volcanic system and should be approached with caution.
They are usually monogenetic (form during a single eruption), but the vent they occupy could reactivate, leading to new activity in the same area.
They are very similar. A hornito is a type of spatter cone that forms on the surface of an active lava flow from the escape of gases, rather than directly from a primary vent.
Notable examples can be found in volcanic fields like the ones in Hawaii (e.g., Kīlauea), Iceland, and the San Francisco Volcanic Field in Arizona, USA.
A small, steep-sided volcanic cone built from lava fragments that were ejected while still molten and welded together upon landing.
Spatter cone is usually technical / scientific in register.
Spatter cone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspætə ˌkəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspæt̬ɚ ˌkoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a painter violently spattering thick paint from a can; the paint blobs pile up into a small, sticky cone on the ground—this is a spatter cone, but with lava.
Conceptual Metaphor
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IS A FLUID ART (e.g., the volcano 'paints' the landscape with spatter).
Practice
Quiz
What primarily distinguishes a spatter cone from a cinder cone?