orogeny

Definition

The process of mountain building by the upward folding of the Earth's crust.

Etymology

From French orogénie, from Ancient Greek ὄρος (óros, “mountain, high ground”) + γενεια (geneia, “creation, birth, making”). By surface analysis, oro- + -geny.

Example Sentences

• "Coordinate term: taphrogeny"
• "The effects of Acadian orogeny are concentrated in central Newfoundland, decreasing in intensity to the east and west (Williams, this volume)."
• "When I asked Geoff Milnes what age the rocks were before they were turned into uncompromising gneisses by the Alpine orogeny he made a rueful face."