mesa — a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, common in southwestern United States
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, common in southwestern United States
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmeɪsə/
Example Sentences
- The UFO supposedly landed on the mysterious mesa, making it a popular tourist spot.
- Arizona is famous for its beautiful red mesas that rise dramatically from the desert floor.
- The geologist explained how millions of years of erosion created these stunning mesa formations.
mesa
NOUN[/ˈmeɪsə/]
a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, common in southwestern United States

a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, common in southwestern United States

Lisa enjoys pizza on top of the mesa!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Spanish 'mesa,' meaning table. The term was applied to flat-topped mountains and plateaus in the American Southwest because their distinctive flat summits resembled the surface of a large table.
Breakdown
mesa (Spanish: table) — a direct semantic transfer from the furniture meaning to geological formations, referencing the flat tabletop-like appearance of the landform.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The UFO supposedly landed on the mysterious mesa, making it a popular tourist spot.”
“Arizona is famous for its beautiful red mesas that rise dramatically from the desert floor.”
“The geologist explained how millions of years of erosion created these stunning mesa formations.”
“Native Americans considered the sacred mesa to be a bridge between earth and sky.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.