Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Escarpment |
EscarpmentNoun1. A long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge; usually formed by erosion. 2. A steep artificial slope in front of a fortification. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "escarpment" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1839. (references) |
Etymology: Escarpment \Es*carp"ment\, noun. [Compare to the French expression escarpement.]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Geography | A comparatively short, abrupt face, often a cliff, terminating an elevated surface of low relief; typically developed by differential degradation where hard and soft inclined strata are interbedded. Source: European Union. (references) |
| A more or less continuous line of cliffs or the steep slopes facing in one general direction which are caused by erosion or faulting. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Geologically speaking, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. Most commonly, an escarpment, also called a scarp, is a transition from one series of sedimentary rocks to another series of a different age and composition. In such cases, the escarpment usually represents the line of erosional loss of the newer rock over the older.Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Escarpment."
Synonyms: EscarpmentSynonyms: escarp (n), protective embankment (n), scarp (n). (additional references) |
| Synonym by domain: scarped (geography). |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Height | Mount, mountain; hill alto, butte, monticle, fell, knap; cape; headland, foreland; promontory; ridge, hog's back, dune; rising ground, vantage ground; down; moor, moorland; Alp; uplands, highlands; heights; (summit); knob, loma, pena, picacho, tump; knoll, hummock, hillock, barrow, mound, mole; steeps, bluff, cliff, craig, tor, peak, pike, clough; escarpment, edge, ledge, brae; dizzy height. |
Layer | Noun: layer, stratum, strata, course, bed, zone, substratum, substrata, floor, flag, stage, story, tier, slab, escarpment; table, tablet; dess; flagstone; board, plank; trencher, platter. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Escarpment |
| English words defined with "escarpment": Colorado Plateau. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "escarpment": fault scarp. (references) |
| Domain | Title |
Books |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Map from NOAA Exclusive Economic Zone Mapping Project Mitchell Basin map showing small portion of Sigsbee Escarpment Image is 30 nautical miles by approximately 50 nautical miles. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | 3-D image from NOAA Exclusive Economic Zone Mapping Project Heceta Escarpment - Fault block structures on the Oregon continental slope Image is 30 nautical miles by approximately 50 nautical miles. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | The Mendocino Escarpment The initial indication of the great seafloor fracture zones Surveyed by GUIDE between 1935-1938. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Nationally known for its beauty, the Paria Canyon has towering walls streaked with desert varnish, huge red rock amphitheaters, sandstone arches, wooded terraces, and hanging gardens. The 3,000-foot escarpment known as the Vermilion Cliffs dominates the remainder of the wilderness with its thick Navajo sandstone face, steep, boulder-strewn slopes and rugged arroyos. Some of the best canyon hiking opportunities on the Colorado River Plateau are found here. Credit: Unknown. |
 | Rock escarpment in Red Rock Canyon, popular with climbers, Las Vegas, Nevada. Credit: Phil Guerrero. |  | High Steens looking west up Pike Creek at Steens Escarpment. (2-85F). Credit: Scott Moore. |
 | In the Alvord Desert on the Alvord Playa looking at the Steens escarpment. (WSA 2-74). Credit: Scott Moore. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | On the side towards her sons, her malignity was precipitous, and her heart had at that spot a fearful escarpment. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Eritrea | Terrain: Central highlands straddle escarpment associated with Rift Valley, dry coastal plains, and western lowlands. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Escarpment" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Escarpment" is used about 107 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 107 | 31,463 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "escarpment"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | skarpat (escarp, scarp, talus), rrëpirë (abruptness, chute, scar, scarp, steep), faqe e rrëpirët. (various references) | |
Arabic | خندق (chase, dike, ditch, dyke, entrench, moat, retrench, trench), جرف (cliff, curette, drag, dragging, drift, palisade, plow, precipice, rake, shovel, sweep, sweep away, sweeping, transport, undercut bank, wash). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | стръмна стена на скала, стена на укрепление (escarp), ескарп (escarp, scarp). (various references) | |
Chinese | 悬崖. (various references) | |
Czech | sráz (bluff, cliff, precipice, rapidity, slope). (various references) | |
Danish | skraent (scarp), skarp kant (scarp), klint. (various references) | |
Dutch | steilte (abruptness, precipice, steepness), steile rotswand (precipice, scarp, sheer), glooiing (acclivity, hillside, slope), binnentalud (inner slope, scarp, talus). (various references) | |
Farsi | پرتگاه مصنوعی , سینه کش , سرازیری خندق . (various references) | |
Finnish | jyrkkä luiska, jyrkänne (bluff, precipice). (various references) | |
French | escarpement. (various references) | |
German | Stufe (degree, grade, increment, layer, level, pace, phase, rank, rung, stage, stair, step, terrace, tier), Steilhang (cliff), steile Felskueste (cliff), Steilabfall (precipice). (various references) | |
Greek | κρημνώρεια (precipice, sheer), κρημνόσ (cliff, precipice, steep), βραχώδες φρύδι (scarp). (various references) | |
Hebrew | מתלל, מתלול (scarp), שפוע מתחת לחומ". (various references) | |
Hungarian | rézsű (bevel, chamfer, declivity, highwall, scarp, slope, splay), partnyesés, meredekség (bluffness, gradient, precipitousness, steepness), meredek rézsűzés, meredek lejtő (rapid slope). (various references) | |
Indonesian | tebing yang curam, gawir. (various references) | |
Italian | scarpata (escarp, scarp). (various references) | |
Manx | lhiargagh (down grade, drop). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | escarpmentay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | escarpamento, escarpa (acclivity, cliff, escarp, steep, talus). (various references) | |
Russian | эскарп (escarp, scarp), откос (acclivity, bank, dip, scarp, slope). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | odron. (various references) | |
Spanish | escarpa (abruptness, bluff, pavement, scarp, slope). (various references) | |
Swedish | brant sluttning (drop off, escarp). (various references) | |
Turkish | eğimli yüzey (glacis, incline), setlerle ile çevrilmiş alan, sert ve kayalı yokuş. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | укіс (declivity, mowing), крутість (abruptness), ескарп (escarp). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | dốc đứng (bluff, craggy, escarp). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "escarpment": escarpments. (additional references) | |
| |
"Escarpment" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: enscarpment, esarpment, escapment, escarpement. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "escarpment" (pronounced eskÄ"rpmunt) |
| 5 | -p m u n t | development, encampment, entrapment, equipment, escapement, redevelopment, shipment, underdevelopment. |
| 4 | -m u n t | aggrandizement, agreement, ailment, alignment, allotment, amazement, amendment, amusement, announcement, annulment, antigovernment, apartment, appeasement, appointment, apportionment, argument, armament, arraignment, arrangement, accompaniment, accomplishment, abandonment, abatement, accouterment, achievement, acknowledgement, acknowledgment, adamant, adjournment, adjustment, adornment, advancement, advertisement, advisement, assessment, assignment, assortment, astonishment, atonement, attachment, attainment, banishment, basement, battlement, bemusement, bereavement, betterment, bewilderment, blandishment, bombardment, claimant, Clement, commandment, commencement, commitment, compartment, complement, comportment, concealment, condiment, confinement, consignment, containment, contentment, copayment, curtailment, impairment, impeachment, impediment, implement, impoundment, impoverishment, impressment, imprisonment, improvement, debarment, debasement, deferment, department, deployment, deportment, derailment, detachment, determent, detriment, diminishment, disagreement, disappointment, disarmament, disbarment, disbursement, discernment, discouragement, disenchantment, disenfranchisement, disengagement, disestablishment, disgruntlement, disillusionment, disinvestment, dismantlement, dismemberment, displacement, divestment, dormant, easement, element, embankment, embarrassment, embayment, embellishment, embezzlement, embodiment, emplacement, employment, empowerment, enactment, enchantment, encirclement, encouragement, encroachment, endangerment, endearment, endorsement, endowment, enforcement, engagement, enhancement, enjoyment, enlargement, enlightenment, enlistment, enrichment, enrollment, enslavement, entanglement, entertainment, enticement, entitlement, entombment, entrenchment, environment, establishment, estrangement, excitement, excrement, experiment, extinguishment, figment, filament, formant, fragment, fulfillment, garment, garnishment, government, harassment, incitement, inclement, increment, indictment, inducement, informant, infotainment, infringement, installment, instrument, integument, internment, intersegment, investment, involvement, judgement, judgment, ligament, maltreatment, management, measurement, micromanagement, misgovernment, misjudgment, mismanagement, misstatement, mistreatment, moment, monument, movement, nongovernment, nonmanagement, nonpayment, nourishment, ointment, ornament, orpiment, outplacement, overpayment, overstatement, parchment, parliament, pavement, payment, pigment, placement, postponement, postretirement, predicament, prejudgment, prepayment, presentment, procurement, pronouncement, punishment, puzzlement, readjustment, realignment, reappointment, reapportionment, rearmament, rearrangement, reassessment, reassignment, recruitment, redeployment, reemployment, reenactment, refinement, refreshment, refurbishment, regiment, reimbursement, reinforcement, reinstatement, reinvestment, repayment, replacement, replenishment, requirement, resentment, resettlement, restatement, retirement, retrenchment, rudiment, sacrament, sediment, segment, sentiment, settlement, statement, supplement, temperament, tenement, testament, tournament, treatment, underemployment, undergarment, underpayment, understatement, unemployment, vehement, wonderment. |
| 3 | -u n t | agent, ambient, ambivalent, ancient, antecedent, antidepressant, antioxidant, apparent, applicant, ardent, argent, arrant, arrogant, absent, absorbent, abstinent, abundant, accelerant, accident, aberrant, abhorrent, abortifacient, accountant, adherent, adjacent, adjutant, adolescent, afferent, affiant, affluent, ascendant, aspirant, assailant, assistant, astringent, attendant, belligerent, beneficent, benevolent, blatant, brilliant, buoyant, celebrant, clairvoyant, client, coefficient, cogent, cognizant, coherent, coincident, combatant, competent, complacent, complainant, complaisant, compliant, component, concomitant, concurrent, confident, confluent, consequent, consistent, consonant, constant, constituent, consultant, contaminant, contestant, continent, contingent, convalescent, convenient, convent, convergent, conversant, coolant, corespondent, cormorant, correspondent, Courant, covenant, Crescent, crosscurrent, current, ignorant, immanent, immigrant, imminent, impatient, impertinent, important, impotent, imprudent, inadvertent, incandescent, decadent, decedent, decent, declarant, decongestant, defendant, defiant, deficient, defoliant, delinquent, deodorant, dependent, depressant, descendant, descendent, despondent, detergent, determinant, deterrent, deviant, different, diligent, discordant, disinfectant, disobedient, dispersant, dissident, dissonant, distant, divalent, divergent, docent, dominant, ebullient, efferent, effervescent, efficient, effluent, elegant, elephant, eloquent, emergent, emigrant, eminent, entrant, equivalent, errant, esculent, evanescent, evident, excellent, exigent, existent, exorbitant, expectant, expectorant, expedient, exponent, extant, extravagant, exuberant, exultant, Fabricant, fervent, flagrant, flamboyant, flatulent, flippant, fluent, fluorescent, fragrant, fraudulent, frequent, gallant, giant, grandiloquent, grandparent, hesitant, hydrant, incessant, incident, incipient, incoherent, incompetent, inconsistent, incontinent, inconvenient, incumbent, indecent, independent, indifferent, indigent, indignant, indolent, indulgent, inefficient, infant, infrequent, ingredient, inhabitant, inhalant, inherent, innocent, inpatient, insignificant, insistent, insolent, insolvent, instant, insufficient, insurgent, intelligent, intercurrent, interdependent, intermittent, intolerant, intransigent, invariant, iridescent, irrelevant, irreverent, irritant, itinerant, jubilant, latent, leant, lenient, lieutenant, litigant, lubricant, lucent, luminescent, luxuriant, magnificent, malevolent, malignant, merchant, migrant, militant, miscreant, monovalent, mordant, mutant, nascent, negligent, noncombatant, nonexistent, nonresident, nonviolent, nutrient, obedient, observant, obsolescent, occupant, odorant, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, operant, opponent, opulent, outpatient, overconfident, oxidant, pageant, parent, participant, patent, patient, peasant, penchant, pendant, penitent, pennant, percipient, permanent, persistent, pertinent, petulant, pheasant, piquant, pleasant, pliant, poignant, pollutant, potent, preadolescent, precedent, predominant, preeminent, pregnant, prescient, present, prevalent, proficient, prominent, propellant, proponent, protestant, provident, prudent, prurient, pungent, pursuant, quadrant, quiescent, quotient, radiant, rampant, reagent, recalcitrant, recent, recipient, recombinant, recurrent, redundant, refrigerant, Regent, registrant, relevant, reliant, reluctant, reminiscent, remnant, repellent, repentant, repugnant, resident, resilient, resistant, resonant, resplendent, respondent, resultant, resurgent, retardant, reticent, reverent, rodent, ruminant, salient, seafront, sealant, semipermanent, Sequent, sergeant, serpent, servant, significant, silent, solvent, somnolent, stagnant, stimulant, strident, stringent, student, subcontinent, subsequent, subservient, succulent, sufficient, supergiant, superintendent, supplicant, suppressant, surfactant, talent, tangent, tenant, tetravalent, tolerant, torrent, transcendent, transient, translucent, transparent, trenchant, trident, triumphant, truant, truculent, tumescent, turbulent, tyrant, undercurrent, unimportant, unpleasant, unrepentant, urgent, vacant, vagrant, valiant, variant, verdant, vibrant, vigilant, violent, virulent, warrant. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-c-e-e-m-n-p-r-s-t" | |
-1 letter: preenacts. | |
-2 letters: casement, centares, cremates, menacers, percents, permeant, precents, preenact, prenames, reascent, reenacts, sarcenet, spacemen, spearmen, temperas. | |
-3 letters: amerces, amperes, arpents, campers, canters, careens, carnets, carpets, caserne, cementa, cements, centare, centers, centres, cerates, cermets, cetanes, creates, cremate, crenate, earnest, eastern, ecartes, encamps, entraps, escaper, martens, meaners, meanest, menacer, menaces, metepas, nearest, nectars, parents. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-c-e-e-m-n-p-r-s-t" | |
+1 letter: escarpments, preachments, temperances. | |
+2 letters: predicaments, replacements. | |
+3 letters: intemperances, intercompares, spermatogenic. | |
+4 letters: contemporaries, magnetospheric, overcompensate, pneumothoraces, rapprochements. | |
+5 letters: comparativeness, complementaries, contemporaneous, counterexamples, mercaptopurines, overcompensated, overcompensates, premanufactures. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Slideshow 6. Images: Photo Album 7. Quotations: Fiction 8. Quotations: Non-fiction | 9. Usage Frequency 10. Expressions: Internet 11. Translations: Modern 12. Derivations | 13. Rhymes 14. Anagrams 15. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
