magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

1

archaic : dregs, sediment

2

: a thin pasty suspension (as of a precipitate in water)

3

: molten rock material within the earth from which igneous rock results by cooling

magmatic

mag-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Examples of magma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Small earthquakes are common around Yellowstone and do not necessarily indicate that magma is rising. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026

Scientists found them by dissolving away the mud and counting microscopic glass shards, remnants of the molten magma the eruption atomized into ultra-fine and rapidly cooling dust. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Aug. 2026

While fine ash was detected within public areas of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, no solid rocks or magma fragments that were ejected during the eruption were reported in any other populated areas. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 July 2026

This would be consistent with the idea that this volcano is fueled by stably residing mantle melts as opposed to transient magmas generated by subduction or hotspots. — Refractor, 27 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin magmat-, magma, from Greek, thick unguent, from massein to knead — more at mingle

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

: molten rock material within the earth

magmatic

mag-ˈmat-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

magma

noun

mag·​ma ˈmag-mə 

1

: a crude mixture of mineral or organic matter in the state of a thin paste

2

: a suspension of a large amount of precipitated material (as in milk of magnesia) in a small volume of a watery vehicle