Meaning & use
metamorphic rock
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
Rock changed by great heat and pressure inside the Earth without melting completely.
Grammar: Can be uncountable (metamorphic rock) or countable when talking about types (a metamorphic rock).
Patterns
- metamorphic rock forms
- a type of metamorphic rock
- metamorphic rock is formed from
Marble is a metamorphic rock that began as limestone.
The cliffs are made of metamorphic rock that was squeezed and heated deep underground.
Geologists study metamorphic rocks to understand the pressure and temperature history of a region.
Word forms
| plural | metamorphic rocks |
|---|
Common combinations
- form metamorphic rock
- Intense heat and pressure can form metamorphic rock over millions of years.
- a layer of metamorphic rock
- Below the soil lies a layer of metamorphic rock.
- metamorphic rock formation
- The mountain range shows a complex metamorphic rock formation.
Word family
- metamorphism noun
- The process by which heat and pressure change rock.
- metamorphic adjective
- Describing rock or processes related to metamorphism.
Commonly confused: metamorphic rock or igneous rock? metamorphic rock or sedimentary rock?
metamorphic rock vs igneous rock
Igneous rock forms from cooled magma or lava, not from heat and pressure changing existing rock.
metamorphic rock vs sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock forms from layers of sand, mud, or shells, usually without intense heat or pressure.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'metamorphic rock' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Metamorphic rock is defined by change from heat and pressure. Magma cooling gives igneous rock, and layers of sand and mud give sedimentary rock.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “metamorphic rock”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.