tectonic

Connected with movements of the large pieces that form Earth’s outer layer.

• Tectonic plates move very slowly.
• The region has strong tectonic activity.
• Tectonic forces raised these mountains over millions of years.

Common phrases: tectonic plates, tectonic activity, tectonic movement

Extremely large or important, especially when describing a change.

• The election caused a tectonic shift in politics.
• Online shopping brought tectonic changes to the retail industry.
• We are witnessing a tectonic transformation in how people work.

Similar words: enormous, massive, momentous

Opposites: minor

Common phrases: tectonic shift, tectonic change, tectonic transformation

Connected with how buildings are designed and put together.

• The architect explained the tectonic design.
• The building reveals its tectonic details through exposed joints.
• Students studied the tectonic principles behind the timber roof.

Similar words: architectural

Common phrases: tectonic design, tectonic architecture, tectonic principles

Connected with the structure of something and how its parts fit together.

• The study describes the tectonic arrangement of the parts.
• Changes to the tectonic framework altered the whole design.
• Her analysis focuses on the work’s tectonic structure.

Similar words: structural

Common phrases: tectonic structure, tectonic arrangement, tectonic framework