n. The process of deformation by which the major features of the earth's crust, including continents, mountains, ocean beds, folds, and faults, are formed. [From Greek diastrophē, distortion, from diastrephein, to distort : dia-, apart; see DIA- + strephein, to twist; see streb(h)- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] di′a·strophic (dī′ə-strŏfĭk, -strōfĭk) adj. |
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