Phrase guide

seafloor spreading

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The outward movement of the seafloor from central underwater ridges as a result of plate tectonics; the major cause of continental drift.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: oceanbundsspredning — outward movement of the seafloor
  • French: expansion des fonds océaniques — outward movement of the seafloor
  • German: Ozeanbodenspreizung — outward movement of the seafloor
  • Norwegian Bokmål: havbunnsspredning — outward movement of the seafloor
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: havbotnspreiing — outward movement of the seafloor
  • Swedish: havsbottenspridning — outward movement of the seafloor
  • Swedish: oceanbottenspridning — outward movement of the seafloor