tectonics
nounUK /tɛkˈtɒn.ɪks/
US /tɛkˈtɑː.nɪks/
Tectonics is the study of how the big rocky pieces of Earth's surface move and crash together.
Scientists use tectonics to understand why earthquakes happen.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The structure of a building or artwork and how its parts are put together.
The architect studied the tectonics of the ancient temple.
3. The way large forces shape a planet's surface over time.
Mars shows signs of ancient tectonics in its giant canyons.
4. The study of how something is built or arranged as a whole.
The tectonics of the novel's plot kept readers guessing.