1. n. [Geology]

The simultaneous occurrence of strike-slip faulting and compression, or convergence, of the Earth's crust. In areas of transpression, rocks can be faulted upward to form a positive flower structure. Areas of strike-slip faulting in rifting or diverging crust are experiencing transtension, in which rocks can drop down to form a negative flower structure.

See related terms: convergence,  crust,  fault,  flower structure,  plate tectonics,  rift,  strike-slip fault,  transtension