| Term | Definition |
| cone | funnel shaped mound of volcano |
| volcano | crack in the earth's crust through which molten rock comes to the surface |
| volcanologist | scientist who studies volcanos |
| composite cone volcano | large, symmetrical, cone-shaped (commonly pictured) |
| cinder-cone volcano | resembles a hill more than a mountain |
| fault | a break in the earth's surface along which rock can move |
| hot spot | a volcano that occurs where a pool of intensely hot magma rises toward the surface, melting rock until it breaks through the crust |
| crater | bowl shape at the top of a main vent which through the lava flows |
| magma chamber | pockets of molten rock deep in the earth's lithosphere |
| vent | opening in the surface of the earth through which lava flows |
| shield volcano | sloping sides; looks like an upside-down saucer |
| pyroclastic flow | an avalanche of red-hot dust and gases that race down the sides of some volcanoes |
| tephra | a mixture of cinder, ash, and rock |
| ring of fire | a ring of volcanoes found in an area around the Pacific Ocean |
| ash | bits of crushed rock propelled from an erupting volcano |
| lava | magma that has broken through the surface of the earth |
| magma | molten rock that makes rock and gases beneath the earth's surface |
| active | volcano that has erupted at some point during a recorded time period and is expected to erupt again |
| dormant | volcano that has erupted in the distant past but is currently inactive |
| extinct | volcano that does not have a recorded eruption and is not expected to erupt in the future |
| Hawaiian eruption | volcano with runny lava and little or no cinder,ash and steam (not dangerous) |
| Strombolian eruption | volcano produces a fountain of lava that runs down the side (not dangerous) |
| Vulcanian eruption | causes a loud explosion that sends lava, ash, cinders and gas into the air |
| Pelean eruption | named after Mount Pelee; produces an avalanche of red-hot dust and gases called a pyroclastic flow (very violent, destroyed 30000 people in 2 minutes) |
| Plinian eruption | most powerful eruption; spews lava and blows gases, ash and debris very high into the atmosphere which can carry ash for miles |
| vog | volcanic fog or gases |
| debris flow | mud and rock fragments that surge down a mountain when a part of it collapses |
| geyser | hot spring that periodically blows steam and hot water into the air |
| igneous rock | rock formed as magma and lava harden |
| hot spring | water that rises to the earth's surface asi it is heated by a magma pool |
| mud pot | a hot spring that has more mud than water |