shield volcano
shield volcano — phrase
1. A type of volcano with a wide, gently-sloping shape, formed when thin, runny lav
A type of volcano with a wide, gently-sloping shape, formed when thin, runny lava flows out over long periods and spreads far across the land before it hardens.
The Hawaiian Islands are shield volcanoes built by thousands of years of fluid lava flows.
collocation: fluid lava flows
Dario studied how shield volcanoes grow wider rather than taller over time.
From the satellite images, the team could see the shield volcano's gentle slope clearly.
Femi showed the class where a shield volcano had risen from the ocean floor.
Eric explained that shield volcanoes erupt hot, runny lava that travels very far.
- lava shield
a less common alternative that highlights the construction material
- low-profile volcano
a descriptive term focusing on the shape rather than the formation process
- stratovolcano
a tall, steep volcano built from alternating layers of lava and ash
- composite volcano
another term for a stratovolcano, which has a much steeper slope than a shield volcano