The geological term "tectonic movement" refers to the large-scale movement of the Earth's crust. This term has several synonyms that can be used in scientific literature and general writing. One popular synonym is "plate tectonics," which describes the theory that Earth's crust is made up of large, rigid plates that move and interact with each other over time. Another synonym is "continental drift," which highlights the movement of entire continents across the surface of the Earth. Other related terms include "seafloor spreading," which describes the formation of new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges, and "subduction," which refers to the process of one tectonic plate diving beneath another.