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continental drift vs. plate tectonics

continental drift

[kon-tn-en-tl drift] / ˈkɒn tnˌɛn tl ˈdrɪft /

noun

Geology. the lateral movement of continents resulting from the motion of crustal plates.

plate tectonics

[pleyt tek-ton-iks] / ˈpleɪt tɛkˈtɒn ɪks /

noun

Geology.

a theory of global tectonics in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of crustal plates, each of which moves on the plastic asthenosphere more or less independently to collide with, slide under, or move past adjacent plates.