Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

isostasy

/ʌɪˈsɒstəsi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.12 in modern English

Syllables: isosta-sy
IPA: /ʌɪˈsɒstəsi/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The state of balance or pressure equilibrium thought to exist within the Earth's crust, whereby the upper lithosphere floats on denser magma beneath.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The process of vertical movement, known as isostasy, was a foundation of geological belief for generations, though no-one had any really good theories as to how or why it happened."
"A great thickness of comparatively light sedimentary rocks accumulating in a geosyncline would ultimately ‘rebound’ because of isostasy – like a depressed rubber duck bouncing back upwards in a bath."
"When a continent carries an ice sheet, the weight of that sheet distorts the equilibrium, the isostasy that causes the crust to float as it does."

Etymology

From iso- + Ancient Greek στάσις (stásis, “a standing”).

Word Breakdown

Prefix: iso

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ʌɪˈsɒstəsi/

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

isostasies (plural)

Derived Forms

glacioisostasy isostasist

Frequently Paired Words

isostatic isostatics

Questions

How do you pronounce isostasy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ʌɪˈsɒstəsi/.
What does isostasy mean?: The state of balance or pressure equilibrium thought to exist within the Earth's crust, whereby the upper lithosphere floats on denser magma beneath.
Where does isostasy come from?: From iso- + Ancient Greek στάσις (stásis, “a standing”).

How to pronounce isostasy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “isostasy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ʌɪˈsɒstəsi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “isostasy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “isostasy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.