thermokarst

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UK/ˌθɜː(ɹ).mʊəˈkɑː(ɹ)st/

noun

A region similar in appearance to karst topography, characterized by an irregular land surface, with bogs, pits, and other depressions, formed in areas of permafrost due to ice melting.

OriginEnglish karst ← German Karst ← Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós) →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nounthermokarst (plural thermokarsts)

plural thermokarsts

  1. geographyA region similar in appearance to karst topography, characterized by an irregular land surface, with bogs, pits, and other depressions, formed in areas of permafrost due to ice melting.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gʷʰer-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*gʷʰermos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*kʷʰermós
  4. Ancient Greekθερμός (thermós)
  5. Englishthermo-
  6. GermanKarst
  7. Englishkarst
  8. Englishthermokarst

From thermo- + karst.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“thermokarst.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thermokarst. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “thermokarst,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thermokarst.

Source: thermokarst on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.