noun
verb
Freq #55850
Meanings
-
1
noun
a place where bedrock or another geological deposit is exposed at the ground's surface
The geologist sampled limestone from an outcrop beside the road.
-
2
verb
geology: to appear or be exposed at the surface of the ground
The sandstone beds outcrop along the ridge.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from out- + crop, using crop in its geological sense 'appear at the surface.' The noun names the visible exposure and the verb describes a rock layer emerging at ground level.