synclinal
9.9
A fold in rock layers that slopes down from both sides to form a low trough
- adjective
- /sɪnˈklaɪnəl/
- Specialized
:
sinclinal
- The geologist explained how the rock layers formed a synclinal structure, creating a natural trough in the landscape.
Examples
-
During the field trip, we observed a synclinal formation where the earth's layers dipped toward a central point.
-
The map indicated that the valley was created by synclinal forces, evident in the way the strata bend downward.
-
And this gives us a synclinal phase diagram, a synclinal phase diagram.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
synclinal positive
Morphology
synclinal = syncline (semi-transparent) = syn + cline + al
The adjective is regularly formed from the technical noun 'syncline' with the common adjective suffix '-al'.
Etymology
Synclinal comes from the Greek parts syn- meaning 'together' and cline meaning 'to lean', the same root you see in incline. Think of two slopes leaning toward each other to make a bowl or trough in rock layers, which is why synclinal describes layers that slope inward and form a low fold.