1.
dormant volcano
A volcano that has not erupted in recorded history but is not considered extinct and may erupt again. In modern geology this classification is largely obsolete in favor of 活火山/non-active, but the word remains common in general usage.
Compound of 休 (rest, pause) + 火山 (volcano). The 休 element suggests a temporary cessation of activity.
Common collocations
Similar words
- 活火山: active volcano — currently active or recently active
- 死火山: extinct volcano — believed never to erupt again (also a fading classification)
- 火山: volcano — the general term
Usage
Modern Japanese volcanology classifies volcanoes simply as 活火山 (active) or not, since "dormant" and "extinct" status often turn out to be incorrect. The traditional three-way split (活/休/死) is still used in everyday speech, however.