lava

Meaning

1. The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides; magma that has breached the surface of the earth.
2. (informal) Magma.
3. A shade of red, named after the volcanic lava.

Synonyms

magma

pumice

geology

slag

volcanic rock

lapilli

calcium

latite

crater

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɑːvə/

Etymology

From Italian, from Neapolitan lava (“lava”, but also “downpour overflowing the streets”). Likely in the sense of “landslide, torrent” from Latin labes (“fall”), compare labina (“avalanche, landslide”). A supposed relation with lavare (“to wash”) is now widely discredited. Neither is there probably any relation with Arabic لابة (lāba, “black volcanic rock”).