lava

noun

la·​va ˈlä-və How to pronounce lava (audio) ˈla- How to pronounce lava (audio)
: molten rock that issues from a volcano or from a fissure in the surface of a planet (such as earth) or moon
also : such rock that has cooled and hardened
lavalike
ˈlä-və-ˌlīk How to pronounce lava (audio)
ˈla-
adjective

Examples of lava in a Sentence

a flow of molten lava
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For dessert, the almond coulant oozed its caramel-coloured ‘lava’ at my spoon’s touch. — Adrienne Wyper, TheWeek, 22 June 2026 Seeing where his tee shot ended up, the Harry Higgs of the recent past might’ve turned to hot lava and melted his way across the back nine. — Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Millions of years ago, the Yakima River carved its way through basalt lava flows to form the Yakima River Canyon. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026 Blasted from porous lava rock, the canals have to be completely full for gravity to push water across the district’s more than 42,000 acres. — Emily Cureton Cook, ProPublica, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lava

Word History

Etymology

Italian, ultimately from Latin labes fall; akin to Latin labi to slide — more at sleep

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lava was in 1759

Phrases Containing lava

Rhymes for lava

See All Rhymes for lava

Browse Nearby Words

lav
lava
Lava Beds National Monument
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lava.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lava. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lava

noun
la·​va ˈläv-ə How to pronounce lava (audio) ˈlav- How to pronounce lava (audio)
: melted rock coming from a volcano
also : such rock that has cooled and hardened

More from Merriam-Webster on lava

Nglish: Translation of lava for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lava

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