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Definition of "escarpment" []

  • A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations. (noun)
  • A steep slope in front of a fortification. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "escarpment" in a sentence
  • "To make it more spectacular the escarpment is sliced by multiple canyons and valleys that plummet abruptly to the semi-desert African plane thousands of feet below."
  • "Farther inland, every sandstone and limestone escarpment is the color of bone."
  • "Toniná, at seven levels up against that escarpment, is the highest construction among all ancient Maya cities and a spectacular sight."