scarp — A steep slope or cliff formed by erosion or faulting
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A steep slope or cliff formed by erosion or faulting
Pronunciation (IPA): /skɑːrp/
Example Sentences
- The hiking trail suddenly ended at a dangerous scarp that made my legs shake like jelly.
- Geologists study the scarp to understand the area's seismic history.
- The medieval castle's scarp was so steep that even mountain goats would need GPS to climb it.
scarp
NOUN[/skɑːrp/]
A steep slope or cliff formed by erosion or faulting
Steep cliff formed by erosion
Playing harp on a sharp scarp
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word scarp derives from Italian 'scarpa' (slope, shoe), which passed through French 'escarpe' before entering English. Originally a military term referring to the sloped wall of a fortification or rampart.
Breakdown
Italian 'scarpa' (slope) → French 'escarpe' → English 'scarp'. The term underwent semantic specialization in military architecture to denote the steep outer face of a fortification ditch or wall.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The hiking trail suddenly ended at a dangerous scarp that made my legs shake like jelly.”
“Geologists study the scarp to understand the area's seismic history.”
“The medieval castle's scarp was so steep that even mountain goats would need GPS to climb it.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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