cirque

[ surk ]

noun

1. circle; ring.
2. a bowl-shaped, steep-walled mountain basin carved by glaciation, often containing a small, round lake.

cirque

/ sɜːk /

noun

1. Also calledcorriecwm a semicircular or crescent-shaped basin with steep sides and a gently sloping floor formed in mountainous regions by the erosive action of a glacier
2. See circle
   archaeol an obsolete term for circle
3. poetic.
   a circle, circlet, or ring

cirque

/ sûrk /

1. A steep, amphitheatre-shaped hollow occurring at the upper end of a mountain valley, especially one forming the head of a glacier or stream. Cirques are formed by the erosive activity of glaciers and often contain a small lake.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cirque¹

1595–1605; < French < Latin circus; circus

Word History and Origins

Origin of cirque¹

C17: from French, from Latin circus ring, circle, circus

Example Sentences

Situated along the main scenic drive in Great Basin National Park, this viewpoint gazes out at a craggy alpine cirque, ancient bristlecone forests, and, of course, the summit proper.

From Outside Online

Craning his neck, Gow noticed the creek flowed out of a high whitewashed cirque with enormous skiing possibility.

From Time

But no matter where her career has taken her, or how big the Cirque has become, Vial keeps coming back.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty-eight years ago, Veronique Vial was asked to photograph Cirque du Soleil.

From The Daily Beast

When Vial got that first assignment, she was just beginning her photography career, and Cirque du Soleil was only a few years old.

From The Daily Beast

The pride and admiration Vial has for the artists who put on Cirque du Soleil is evident.

From The Daily Beast

Cirque du Soleil obviously sprang to startling success with a variety of shows since its 1987 founding.

From The Daily Beast

Most of its mass is derived directly from the low hanging snow clouds, or is blown into the cirque by eddying winds.

From Project Gutenberg

What especially distinguishes the Puyallup Glacier from its neighbors to the north is the great elevation of its cirque.

From Project Gutenberg

The cirque is small and shallow, not as capacious even as either of the twin recesses in the Carbon Glacier's amphitheater.

From Project Gutenberg

A huge cirque extending up toward Liberty Cap on the western side of the mountain.

From Project Gutenberg

I will give you my opinion,” he uttered, “after I have investigated matters in the Rue du Cirque.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ring
• sphere