1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a craton (a large, stable block of continental crust that has remained relatively undeformed for a long time)
Usage: geology; technical

Examples

• The cratonic shield of North America has been geologically stable for billions of years.
• Cratonic regions are typically characterized by thick, ancient rock formations.
• Geologists study cratonic interiors to understand the early history of continents.
• The cratonic platform extends across much of the central United States.