volcano
gb/vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/ us/vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
B1
English
~ 9900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
mountain that can erupt lava
A mountain with a hole at the top where hot melted rock, gas, and ash can come out from inside the earth.
Usage pattern:
an [adjective] volcano
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the singular and plural forms, writing *volcanos* instead of the more common *volcanoes*. Both spellings are accepted, but *volcanoes* is standard in most modern English. Another common mistake is to use *volcano* for any mountain; a volcano specifically has or had eruptions of lava, ash, or gas.
Synonyms
volcanic mountain (More descriptive phrase; slightly more technical and less common than simply saying 'volcano'.)
Antonyms
plain (A flat area of land with no mountains or volcanic activity, contrasting with a raised volcanic feature.)
Collocations
active volcano
|dormant volcano
|extinct volcano
|underwater volcano
|volcano erupts
|volcano spews lava
Themes
science
|nature
|geography
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The island was formed by an underwater volcano that slowly rose above the surface of the ocean.
- Scientists monitor the volcano closely for signs that it might erupt again.
- A thick cloud of ash rose from the volcano and drifted over nearby towns.
- We hiked up the side of the volcano to look down into the crater.
- Several villages at the foot of the volcano were evacuated before the eruption.
Learner examples
- The volcano suddenly sent hot lava into the sky.
- Many people live near the volcano because the soil is rich.
- This country has more than twenty active volcanoes.
- Tourists took photos of the smoke coming from the volcano.
- The children drew a big volcano with red lava in their notebooks.
Noun
C1
state
2
person or situation ready to explode
A person or situation that may suddenly show very strong anger, feelings, or violence.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a volcano of [emotion]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this figurative sense without enough context, so readers may think of a real volcano. Make sure surrounding words make it clear you are talking about emotions or tension, for example, 'a volcano of anger' or 'a political volcano'.
Synonyms
hothead (Informal; focuses on a person who gets angry quickly, without the strong image of sudden, massive explosion.)
|
powder keg (Metaphor for a situation that may suddenly become violent or dangerous; less about personal emotion and more about social or political tension.)
Antonyms
calm person (Describes someone who stays relaxed and controlled, the opposite of an emotionally explosive 'volcano'.)
Collocations
a volcano of anger
|a volcano of passion
|emotional volcano
|political volcano
Themes
emotions
|personality
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Beneath his quiet manner, he was a volcano of anger just waiting to erupt.
- The region is a political volcano that could erupt into conflict at any time.
- Her calm voice hid a volcano of emotion after the unfair decision.
- The company has become a volcano of tension as layoffs draw closer.
- Their marriage was a volcano ready to explode after years of unspoken problems.
Learner examples
- After many small problems, the office felt like a volcano.
- He looks relaxed, but inside he is a volcano of stress.
- The city is a volcano of anger after the news.
- If you push him too hard, he can become a volcano.
- Her heart was a volcano of love and fear.
Grammar
Dictionary form
volcano
IPA
GB/vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
US/vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
Syllables & stress
vol - cano (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cano)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: volcano
- Plural: volcanoes, volcanos
Word family
Expressions
a volcano of anger
1/ə vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ əv ˈæŋɡɚ/
idiom
extreme anger ready to burst
Very strong anger inside a person that may suddenly come out.
Examples
- He was a volcano of anger after hearing the unfair decision.
- She controlled her words, but inside she was a volcano of anger.
- The crowd became a volcano of anger when the result was announced.
active volcano
1/ˈæktɪv vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
fixed phrase
volcano that may erupt again
A volcano that is erupting now or can erupt again in the future.
Examples
- There are several active volcanoes in this region, so earthquakes are common.
- Tourists are advised to stay away from the active volcano during the rainy season.
- Scientists installed new sensors around the active volcano to track gas levels.
dormant volcano
1/dˈɔɹmənt vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
fixed phrase
volcano not active for long time
A volcano that has not erupted for many years but may still erupt again in the future.
Examples
- The town was built on the side of a dormant volcano.
- Although it looks safe, the dormant volcano is still carefully watched by experts.
- Geologists warn that a dormant volcano can wake up suddenly.
extinct volcano
1/ɪkstˈɪŋkt vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
fixed phrase
volcano not expected to erupt again
A volcano that scientists think will never erupt again.
Examples
- The hill they climbed was once an extinct volcano.
- An extinct volcano can be an ideal place for farming because of the rich soil.
- The national park was created around an extinct volcano and its crater lake.
shield volcano
1/ʃˈild vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
fixed phrase
technical
broad gently sloping volcano type
A wide volcano with gentle sides, made by many thin lava flows.
Examples
- Mauna Loa in Hawaii is a classic example of a shield volcano.
- Shield volcanoes usually have less explosive eruptions than steep cone-shaped volcanoes.
sit on a volcano
1/sˈɪt ˈɔn ə vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
idiom
literary
be in a very unstable situation
To be in a situation that feels calm now but could suddenly become very dangerous or full of problems.
Examples
- With rising prices and low wages, the government is sitting on a volcano.
- They knew they were sitting on a volcano, but no one wanted to address the conflict.
- Without real reform, the company will be sitting on a volcano of employee anger.
underwater volcano
1/ˈʌndɚwˌɔtɚ vɑlkˈeɪnoʊ/
fixed phrase
volcano on the ocean floor
A volcano that is under the sea, on the bottom of the ocean or a lake.
Examples
- The island slowly grew as the underwater volcano continued to erupt.
- An underwater volcano can cause large waves called tsunamis.
- Scientists used a submarine to study the underwater volcano.