shatter cone

noun

A type of geologic feature consisting of a branching network of multiple stacked conical or spoon-shaped striated fractures produced by high-intensity shock waves, with the apex of the cones pointing back towards the point of origin of the shock waves; only known to be produced by hypervelocity meteorite impacts or underground nuclear explosions.

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Meanings

nounshatter cone (plural shatter cones)

plural shatter cones · alternative shattercone

  1. geographyA type of geologic feature consisting of a branching network of multiple stacked conical or spoon-shaped striated fractures produced by high-intensity shock waves, with the apex of the cones pointing back towards the point of origin of the shock waves; only known to be produced by hypervelocity meteorite impacts or underground nuclear explosions.

Origin

Compound of shatter + cone.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

shatter cone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shatter%20cone

MLA

“shatter cone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shatter%20cone. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shatter cone,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shatter%20cone.

Source: shatter cone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.