escarpment

[ ih-skahrp-muh nt ]
/ ɪˈskɑrp mənt /

noun

Geology. a long, precipitous, clifflike ridge of land, rock, or the like, commonly formed by faulting or fracturing of the earth's crust. Compare scarp(def 1).
ground cut into an escarp around a fortification or defensive position.

Origin of escarpment

From the French word escarpement, dating back to 1795–1805. See escarp, -ment

Example sentences from the Web for escarpment

British Dictionary definitions for escarpment

escarpment
/ (ɪˈskɑːpmənt) /

noun

  1. the long continuous steep face of a ridge or plateau formed by erosion; scarp
  2. any steep slope, such as one resulting from faulting
a steep artificial slope immediately in front of the rampart of a fortified place

Scientific definitions for escarpment

escarpment
[ ĭ-skärpmənt ]

A steep slope or long cliff formed by erosion or by vertical movement of the Earth's crust along a fault. Escarpments separate two relatively level areas of land. The term is often used interchangeably with scarp but is more accurately associated with cliffs produced by erosional processes rather than those produced by faulting.