massif

[ ma-seef, mas-if; French ma-seef ]
See synonyms for massif on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits.

  2. a large elevated block of old complex rocks resistant to both erosion and crustal folding.

  1. a band or zone of the earth's crust raised or depressed as a unit and bounded by faults.

Origin of massif

1
1515–25; <French, noun use of massifmassive

Words Nearby massif

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How to use massif in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for massif

massif

/ (ˈmæsiːf, French masif) /


noun
  1. a geologically distinct mass of rock or a series of connected masses forming the peaks of a mountain range

  2. a topographically high part of the earth's crust that is bounded by faults and may be shifted by tectonic movements

Origin of massif

1
C19: from French, noun use of massif massive

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for massif

massif

[ mă-sēf ]


  1. A large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. A massif often consists of rocks that are more rigid than the surrounding rocks.

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