noun
- Plural of plutonism; the geological theory that rocks form from the cooling and solidification of molten material (magma) beneath or within the Earth's crust.
Usage: technical; geology; historical
Examples
- Early geologists debated between plutonisms and neptunism to explain rock formation.
- The study of plutonisms helped scientists understand volcanic activity and crustal composition.
- Plutonisms provided evidence that the Earth's interior was hot and dynamic.
- Modern geology incorporates principles from plutonisms in plate tectonics theory.