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volcano

n. · v.
US //vɑɫˈkeɪnoʊ// UK //vɒlkˈeɪnəʊ// vol·cano
  1. 1 geological feature (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    a mountain with an opening where hot lava, ash, and gas can erupt from underground.

    a vent or fissure in the earth's crust through which magma, volcanic gases, and ash are ejected.

    Example

    The volcano erupted last night, sending a huge cloud of ash into the sky.

    Example

    Geologists monitored the dormant volcano for months, looking for seismic activity that might indicate a pending eruption of magma.
  2. 2 type of firework (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a small firework that sits on the ground and shoots sparks upward in a cone shape.

    a pyrotechnic device designed to produce a steady upward plume of sparks, mimicking a volcanic eruption.

    Example

    We lit a gold volcano in the garden for the New Year's Eve celebration.

    Example

    The display concluded with several silver volcanoes that showered the driveway in a bright, controlled fountain of sparks.
  3. 3 to erupt (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to explode or burst out suddenly like a volcano.

    to erupt or burst forth with great force; often used figuratively to describe sudden emotional outbursts.

    Example

    The crowd started to volcano with cheers when the goal was scored.

    Example

    His long-suppressed anger finally began to volcano, spilling over into a heated argument that stunned everyone in the boardroom.
Origin

From Italian vulcano, from Vulcano (“a small volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea”), from Latin Vulcānus (“Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalworking”). Doublet of bolcane and Vulcan.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 20, 2026