I. (ˈ) väl|kanik, -nēk sometimes -|kān- adjective
Etymology: French volcanique, from volcan volcano (from Italian volcano, vulcano ) + -ique -ic — more at volcano
1.
a. : of or relating to a volcano
volcanic activity
volcanic steam
b. : characterized by or composed of volcanoes
a volcanic region
a volcanic chain
a volcanic range
c. : produced, influenced, or changed by a volcano or by volcanic agencies : made of materials from volcanoes
a volcanic mountain
2. : resembling a volcano especially in explosive violence or latent explosive violence : characteristic of a volcano : violent , volatile
blurting out a few volcanic words, and then relapsing — Thomas Wolfe
long-oppressed volcanic emotions erupt, old family feuds flare up — Vicki Baum
this volcanic tempest of a man, fierce, merciless to the flesh — H.O.Taylor
the volcanic tremors that now convulse civilization — Sumner Welles
major adjustments of one kind or another are essential to stabilize that politically volcanic region — Vera M. Dean
• vol·can·i·cal·ly -nə̇k(ə)lē, -nēk-, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: a volcanic rock