1. n. [Geology]

The simultaneous occurrence of strike-slip faulting and extension, rifting, or divergence of the Earth's crust. In areas of transtension, rocks can be faulted downward to form a negative flower structure. Areas of strike-slip faulting in converging crust are experiencing transpression, in which rocks can be faulted upwards to form a positive flower structure.

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