/ vɒlˈkeɪnəʊ; NAmE vɑːlˈkeɪnoʊ/ noun
( pl. -oes or -os ) a mountain with a large opening at the top through which gases and lava (= hot liquid rock) are forced out into the air, or have been in the past :
An active volcano may erupt at any time.
a dormant volcano (= one that is not active at present)
an extinct volcano (= one that is no longer active)
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from Italian , from Latin Volcanus Vulcan (the Roman god of fire).