noun, plural nu·ées ar·dentes [French ny-ey zar–dahnt] /French nü eɪ zarˈdɑ̃t/. Geology.
- (in a volcanic eruption) a swiftly flowing, dense cloud of hot gases, ashes, and lava fragments.
noun
- a rapidly moving turbulent incandescent cloud of gas, ash, and rock fragments flowing close to the ground after violent ejection from a volcanoSee also ignimbrite
Plural nuées ardentes (nōō-āz′ ăr-däɴt′)
- A fast moving gaseous cloud of hot ashes and other material thrown out from an erupting volcano. Nuées ardentes are often incandescent.