arête

[ uh-reyt ]
/ əˈreɪt /

noun Physical Geography, Geology.

a sharp rugged mountain ridge, produced by glaciation.

Origin of arête

1860–65; < French; Old French areste sharp ridge < Latin arista awn, ear of wheat

Words nearby arête

arytenoid cartilage, arytenoid muscle, arytenoidectomy, arytenoiditis, arytenoidopexy, arête, as, as . . . as, as a matter of course, as a matter of fact, as a rule

British Dictionary definitions for arête

arête
/ (əˈreɪt, əˈrɛt) /

noun

a sharp ridge separating two cirques or glacial valleys in mountainous regions

Word Origin for arête

C19: from French: fishbone, backbone (of a fish), ridge, sharp edge, from Latin arista ear of corn, fishbone

Scientific definitions for arête

arête
[ ə-rāt′ ]

A sharp, narrow ridge or spur commonly found above the snow line in mountainous areas that have been sculpted by glaciers. Arêtes form as the result of the continued backward erosion of adjoining cirques.