What are large pieces of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents called?

The large pieces of the Earth's crust that move due to convection currents are called tectonic plates. This terminology is widely accepted in geology and helps explain the movement and interaction of the Earth's surface.

Tectonic plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them, and their movement is primarily driven by the convection currents within the mantle, which arise from heat produced by the decay of radioactive elements. This movement can lead to various geological phenomena, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the creation of mountain ranges.

While other terms, like continental plates and oceanic plates, refer to specific types of tectonic plates (continental plates being thicker and less dense, typically forming landmasses, while oceanic plates are thinner and denser, forming ocean floors), "tectonic plates" encompasses all types of plates involved in the dynamics of the Earth's crust. Lithospheric plates is another term that can be used synonymously with tectonic plates, but it is less common and does not emphasize the notion of their movement as clearly as the term "tectonic plates."