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ravine

 - 3 dictionary results

ra⋅vine

  [ruh-veen]
–noun
a narrow steep-sided valley commonly eroded by running water.
Use ravine in a Sentence
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF: torrent, OF: a violent rushing; see raven 2

Related forms:
ra⋅vine⋅y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ravine
ra·vine   (rə-vēn')   
n.  A deep narrow valley or gorge in the earth's surface worn by running water.

[French, from Old French, violent rush, from Latin rapīna, rapine; see ravin.]
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

ravine 
1760, "deep gorge," from Fr. ravin "a gully" (1690, from O.Fr. raviner "to hollow out"), and from Fr. ravine "violent rush of water, gully," from O.Fr. ravine "violent rush, robbery, rapine," both ult. from L. rapina (see rapine); sense influenced by L. rapidus "rapid." M.E. ravine meant "booty, plunder, robbery" from c.1350-1500. Cf. ravening.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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