ScienceSeptember 4, 2026

supercontinent

SOO-per-kon-tuh-nuhnt

Definition

A large landmass formed by the assembly of most or all of Earth's continental blocks at a specific point in geological time.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'super' (above or beyond) and 'continens' (the present participle of 'continere', meaning to hold together). It entered scientific usage in the early 20th century to describe massive ancient landmasses.

In the news

The article references the breakup of Pangea, a supercontinent, to explain how the ancient geological movements shaped the current landscape of the Upper Valley.

‘The granite of New Hampshire’: Examining Dartmouth’s unique geography and geological history

Read the full article ↗

The Dartmouth

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