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ESCARPMENT

 - 4 dictionary results

es⋅carp⋅ment

  [i-skahrp-muhnt]
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–noun
1. Geology. a long, precipitous, clifflike ridge of land, rock, or the like, commonly formed by faulting or fracturing of the earth's crust. Compare scarp 1 (def. 1).
2. ground cut into an escarp around a fortification or defensive position.
Origin:
1795–1805; < F escarpement. See escarp, -ment
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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es·carp·ment   (ĭ-skärp'mənt)   
n.  

  1. A steep slope or long cliff that results from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.

  2. A steep slope in front of a fortification.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

escarpment 
1802, from Fr. escarpment, from escarper "make into a steep slope," from escarpe "slope," from It. scarpa (see scarp).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary
escarpment   (ĭ-skärp'mənt)  Pronunciation Key 
A steep slope or long cliff formed by erosion or by vertical movement of the Earth's crust along a fault. Escarpments separate two relatively level areas of land. The term is often used interchangeably with scarp but is more accurately associated with cliffs produced by erosional processes rather than those produced by faulting.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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