Meaning & use

sima

noun·Advanced

The dense, silica- and magnesium-rich rock forming the lower part of Earth's crust, especially under oceans.

See it in a sentence

Geologists explained that sima lies beneath the lighter sial layer that forms the continents.

Oceanic crust is mostly sima, which is denser than the rock found under continents.

A note on using this word

The term sima combines 'silica' and 'magnesium'; it contrasts with 'sial', the lighter, silica- and aluminum-rich rock of continental crust.

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