tectonic adjective4 •Of, relating to, or caused by large-scale movements of the Earth's (or a similar planet's) lithosphere. •(figurative) Momentous, utter, vast.But it would be a mistake to imagine that we are benignly coming full circle, or even that we are finding that the old ways are still the most efficient. A tectonic shift has occurred. — 2019 •Of or relating to construction or to architecture. •Structural.