Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Geology.
- a large body of intrusive igneous rock believed to have crystallized at a considerable depth below the earth’s surface; pluton.
noun
- a very large irregular-shaped mass of igneous rock, esp granite, formed from an intrusion of magma at great depth, esp one exposed after erosion of less resistant overlying rocks
1903, from German batholith (1892), coined by German geologist Eduard Suess (1831-1914) from Greek bathos “depth” (see benthos) + -lith “stone.”
- A large mass of igneous rock that has intruded and melted surrounding strata at great depths. Batholiths usually have a surface area of over 100 km2 (38 mi2).