Definition
pahoehoe
noun
- a type of lava that has a smooth, ropy surface when it cools and solidifies
Usage: geology; from Hawaiian
Examples
- The volcanic field was covered with pahoehoe lava that had cooled into smooth, wave-like formations.
- Geologists identified the pahoehoe flows from the recent eruption by their characteristic ropy texture.
- Unlike the rough a'a lava, pahoehoe is easier to walk across despite its uneven surface.
- The pahoehoe lava from Kilauea spread across the landscape in dark, glossy sheets.
- Scientists studied the pahoehoe samples to understand the volcano's eruption history.