outcrop

Everyday

1. A part of rock that sticks out of the ground or a hillside. tree →
2. A small group of something appearing in an unexpected place. tree →

In the lessons

A geography and science word: geologists study rock outcrops to see layers and fossils. On walks, outcrops are good places to look at kinds of rock (granite, limestone). In a city, an «outcrop» of shops can mean a small cluster.

Examples

• We sat on a rocky outcrop to eat our lunch. tree →
• The outcrop of limestone was full of fossils. tree →
• Climbers practised on the granite outcrop. tree →
• From the outcrop we could see the whole valley. tree →
• Be careful near outcrops; the edges can be crumbly. tree →
• The Australian outback has red rock outcrops. tree →

Note

Countable; one word. Use «an». Related: «crop out» (verb, rarer). Safety: keep away from the edges of outcrops and cliffs.