| Main Entry: | abyssal plain |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | a large area of extremely flat or gently sloping ocean floor just offshore from a continent, at depths of 13,000-20,000 feet |
| Example: | The abyssal plains begin where the continental margins end. Several species of worms, shrimp, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, and fish live in abyssal plains. |
| Usage: | geography |