LITHOSPHERE
lithosphere, geosphere
(noun) the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
lithosphere (plural lithospheres)
(geology) The rigid, mechanically strong, outer layer of the Earth; divided into twelve major plates.
Coordinate terms
• atmosphere
• hydrosphere
Anagrams
• heterophils
Source: Wiktionary
Lith"o*sphere, n. [Litho- + sphere.] (Phys. Geog.)
(a) The solid earth as distinguished from its fluid envelopes, the
hydrosphere and atmosphere.
(b) The outer part of the solid earth, the portion undergoing change
through the gradual transfer of material by volcanic eruption, the
circulation of underground water, and the process of erosion and
deposition. It is, therefore, regarded as a third mobile envelope
comparable with the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition