earthwork

[ urth-wurk ]
/ ˈɜrθˌwɜrk /

noun

excavation and piling of earth in connection with an engineering operation.
Military. a construction formed chiefly of earth for protection against enemy fire, used in both offensive and defensive operations.
an artistic work that consists of a large-scale alteration or modification of an area of land in a configuration designed by an artist or of an artist's sculptural installation, as in a museum or gallery, of soil, rock, or similar elemental materials.

Origin of earthwork

First recorded in 1625–35; earth + work

Example sentences from the Web for earthwork

British Dictionary definitions for earthwork

earthwork
/ (ˈɜːθˌwɜːk) /

noun

excavation of earth, as in engineering construction
a fortification made of earth