volcanic

volcanic — adjective

1. connected with volcanoes and the natural events or materials associated with the

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

connected with volcanoes and the natural events or materials associated with them, like lava, ash, and rock that come out during eruptions

Example

A huge cloud of volcanic ash rose into the sky after Mount Merapi erupted.

collocation: volcanic ash

Farmers in Indonesia prefer volcanic soil because it contains many natural minerals.

collocation: volcanic soil

Common collocations
  • volcanic ash
  • volcanic rock
  • volcanic eruption
  • volcanic activity
  • volcanic soil
  • volcanic island
  • volcanic crater
Synonyms
  • igneous

    a more technical term used specifically for rock formed by volcanic activity; rarely used for ash or eruptions

Antonyms
  • non-volcanic

    describing areas or rocks not related to volcanoes

Usage Note

Often used before nouns related to geology and natural events, such as 'eruption', 'ash', 'rock', 'activity', 'island', and 'lava'. The word 'volcano' is the noun that names the mountain itself.

Common Mistakes

The volcano ash covered the town.
The volcanic ash covered the town.
Use the adjective form 'volcanic' before nouns; 'volcano' is the noun for the mountain.
A volcanic is erupting near the city.
A volcano is erupting near the city.
'Volcanic' is an adjective, not a noun meaning the mountain.

2. describing a person whose anger can explode suddenly and with great force, or a

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing a person whose anger can explode suddenly and with great force, or a situation or emotion that is filled with fierce, explosive anger

Example

Nala's volcanic temper surprised everyone when she shouted at the meeting.

collocation: volcanic temper

The discussion turned volcanic after one delegate insulted the other's country.

figurative use with situation

Common collocations
  • volcanic temper
  • volcanic anger
  • volcanic rage
  • volcanic outburst
  • volcanic fury
  • volcanic reaction
Synonyms
  • explosive

    similar meaning but broader; can describe both emotions and physical events without reference to volcanoes

  • fiery

    suggests quick, intense anger but less explosive than 'volcanic'

  • volatile

    describes an unstable emotional state that can change or explode suddenly

Antonyms
  • calm

    describing someone who does not get angry easily

  • placid

    suggesting a naturally peaceful and untroubled temperament

Usage Note

Frequently combined with nouns describing emotion such as 'temper', 'anger', 'fury', 'rage', and 'outburst'. This figurative sense draws a comparison between human anger and a volcanic eruption. Can be used both attributively ('volcanic temper') and predicatively ('her temper is volcanic').

Common Mistakes

She has a volcanic personality all the time.
She has a volcanic temper when she is angry.
This sense describes sudden explosive anger, not a general personality trait.
He is volcanic.
He has a volcanic temper.
'Volcanic' is more natural when modifying a noun like 'temper' or 'outburst' than when used alone to describe a person.

volcanic — noun

Word family

  • volcano
    nounA2
  • volcanically
    adverbC1
  • volcanism
    nounC2
  • volcanology
    nounC2
  • volcanologist
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

All three words describe intense anger, but each carries a different shade of meaning. 'Explosive' (the closest synonym) emphasises the sudden, violent release of emotion — someone with an explosive temper can seem calm one moment and furious the next, just like a volcanic eruption. 'Fiery' suggests a more continuous, passionate heat; a fiery person may argue with energy and intensity, but not necessarily without warning. 'Volatile' focuses on unpredictability — a volatile temperament can shift from calm to rage quickly, but the word also describes unstable situations beyond personal anger. Use 'volcanic' when you want the strongest visual metaphor: anger that builds underground pressure and then erupts with destructive force. For example: 'His volcanic rage shocked the whole team' sounds far more violent than 'his fiery disagreement'. Choose 'explosive' for suddenness, 'fiery' for passion, 'volatile' for instability, and 'volcanic' when you want the full force of the eruption metaphor.

explosive ↗fiery ↗volatile

Etymology

LatinItalianFrenchEnglish

From French 'volcanique', from Italian 'vulcanico', from Latin 'Vulcānus' — the name of the Roman god of fire and metalworking. The literal meaning ('related to a volcano') entered English in the 1570s. The figurative sense ('explosively angry') developed in the late 1700s, drawing a comparison between a person's sudden rage and a volcano's eruption.