igneous — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Pertaining to or having the nature of fire; containing fire; resembling fire.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   The stone had an igneous appearance.

2. Resulting from, or produced by, great heat. With rocks, it could also mean formed from lava or magma.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Granite and basalt are igneous rocks.

   All formations, whether igneous or aqueous, which can be shown by any such proofs to be of a date posterior to the introduction of man, will be called Recent.

Adjective

1. produced under conditions involving intense heat

   Synonyms

   pyrogenicpyrogenous

   Examples

   igneous rock is rock formed by solidification from a molten state; especially from molten magma

   igneous fusion is fusion by heat alone

   More examples (1)

   pyrogenic strata

2. produced by the action of fire or intense heat

   Synonyms

   eruptive

   Antonyms

   aqueous

   Examples

   rocks formed by igneous agents

3. like or suggestive of fire

   Synonyms

   fiery

   Examples

   a fiery desert wind

   an igneous desert atmosphere