A tectonic earthquake occurs where tectonic plates meet, an area known as the boundary. A tectonic earthquake occurs where tectonic plates meet, an area known as the boundary. A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. A tectonic plate (also called lithospheric plate) is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. tectonic plate definition: one of the parts of the earth's surface that move in relation to each other. tectibranch, tectiform, tectonic, tectonic boundary, tectonic keratoplasty, tectonic plates, tectonics, tectonism, tectorial, tectorial membrane, tectorial membrane of cochlear duct The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright … Contintental plates have a lower average density, containing granitic rocks with a heavy composition of ‘The tectonic plates are shifting under Scotland's opposition parties.’ ‘It's a real-life, working home — now twisting and groaning under the thrall of a tectonic hiccup.’ ‘In these efforts, and much more, our Congress has signed off on massive, tectonic legislation without so much as a moment's pause.’ tectonic plate synonyms, tectonic plate pronunciation, tectonic plate translation, English dictionary definition of tectonic plate. Tectonic plates synonyms, Tectonic plates pronunciation, Tectonic plates translation, English dictionary definition of Tectonic plates. Learn more. When two plates push into each other, they form a convergent plate boundary.For example, the oceanic Nazca Plate off the coast of South America along the Peru-Chile trench pushes into and is subducted under the South American Plate.

Plate size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic Plates are among the largest.

Tectonic definition, of or relating to building or construction; constructive; architectural. Tectonic plates are pieces of the rocky outer layer of the Earth known as the crust. Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. See more. The definition of tectonic plates for kids involves thinking of the Earth's crust as large slabs that move over a liquid mantle. The tectonic plates are about 100 km (60 miles) in thickness, with continental plates tending to be thicker than oceanic ones. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples What is a tectonic plate? Definition and synonyms of tectonic from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. The composure of the two types of plate is also quite different. The theory of plate tectonics says that thick slabs of crust under the oceans and continents move around like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Such active plate tectonics make studying global tectonic history, especially for the ocean plates, difficult for times greater than 200 million years ago. The continents, which are c.25 mi (40 km) thick, are embedded in some of the plates, and hence move as the plates move about on the earth's surface. Exactly how this works is still a matter of debate.