continental drift


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continental drift

n.
The movement, formation, or re-formation of continents described by the theory of plate tectonics.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

continental drift

n
(Geological Science) geology the theory that the earth's continents move gradually over the surface of the planet on a substratum of magma. The present-day configuration of the continents is thought to be the result of the fragmentation of a single landmass, Pangaea, that existed 200 million years ago. See also plate tectonics
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

con′tinen′tal drift′


n.
the lateral movement of continents resulting from the motion of crustal plates.
[1925–30]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

continental drift

The gradual movement of the Earth's continents toward or away from each other. See more at plate tectonics. See Note at Gondwanaland.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

continental drift

The theory that continents have drifted around the face of the Earth.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.continental drift - the gradual movement and formation of continents (as described by plate tectonics)
geological phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the structure or composition of the earth
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

continental drift

n → deriva dei continenti
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
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References in periodicals archive ?
Ice Age: Continental Drift E4, 8pm The prehistoric animals get stuck on a drifting iceberg, and try to find a way home.
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There are four major causes of natural climate change; 1) Changes in the sun's solar output, 2) Changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis, 3) Continental drift, which changes ocean currents that impact weather and climate, and 4) Changing wind currents.
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The mantle is constantly moving slowly and affects continental drift, plate movements that cause earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
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Following on from 2012's Continental Drift, we reunite with mammoths Manne and Ellie who are gearing up for the wedding of their daughter.
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The book's four sections cover the ideas of deep time, continental drift and plate tectonics, meteorite impacts (structures and ecological effects), and climate change.
Four Revolutions In The Earth Sciences: From Heresy to Truth
Written in descriptive, narrative style, this biography details the career, travels, and discoveries of Alfred Wegener, the German scientist and polar explorer who developed the theory of continental drift. The book draws on his published scientific work as well as his journals and correspondence held in archives in Germany, Austria, and Greenland.
Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift provides a powerful blend of science and biography as it tells of a man drawn to fieldwork and its applications to a variety of disciplines beyond science.
Alfred Wegener

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