isostasy

2 definitions found

isostasy - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Isostasy \I*sos"ta*sy\, n. [See Iso-; Stasis.]
     The state or quality of being isostatic. Specif. (Geol.),
     general equilibrium in the earth's crust, supposed to be
     maintained by the yielding or flow of rock material beneath
     the surface under gravitative stress. By the theory of
     isostasy each unit column of the earth, from surface to
     center, has approximately the same weight, and the continents
     stand higher than the ocean beds chiefly because the material
     of the crust has there less density.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

isostasy - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  isostasy
      n 1: (geology) a general equilibrium of the forces tending to
           elevate or depress the earth's crust