ejecta

noun

ejec·​ta i-ˈjek-tə How to pronounce ejecta (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: material thrown out (as from a volcano)

Examples of ejecta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Previously, geophysicists had argued that these transitions represent the difference between volcanic materials above and ejecta from impacts buried below, and a change from porous rock (i.e. filled with cracks and hollows) to solid rock at 12 miles (20 kilometers) deep. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2025 From there, these dense clumps were sprinkled with oxygen and other next-generation elements by the supernova’s expanding blast front of ejecta. Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025 And a catalog of such objects could be valuable for planetary defense models assessing the impact risk of near-Earth objects, scientists say, as the models currently do not consider lunar ejecta as a potential source of near-Earth asteroids. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025 The crater is ringed by bright ejecta, in reference to rocky debris thrown out by the asteroid impact. Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ejecta

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, neuter plural of ejectus

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ejecta was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ejecta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ejecta. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

ejecta

noun
ejec·​ta i-ˈjek-tə How to pronounce ejecta (audio)
: matter (as vomit) ejected from the body
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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