tectonics vs plate tectonics

tectonics and plate tectonics both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
tectonics	Yes	No	No	No
plate tectonics	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, tectonics and plate tectonics are synonyms defined as:

tectonics and plate tectonics: the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust

Other synonyms of tectonics include plate tectonic theory.

tectonics (noun)	plate tectonics (noun)
the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust	the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust
the science of architecture