barchan dune
Science Dictionary
barchan dune  (bär-kän') Pronunciation Key
A large, crescent-shaped dune lying at right angles to the prevailing wind and having a steep, concave leeward side with the crescent tips pointing downwind. Barchan dunes form on flat, hard surfaces where the sand supply is limited. They can reach heights of up to 30 m (98 ft) and widths of 350 m (1,148 ft). See illustration at dune. |
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Barchan dune
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
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