embankment

American  

[em-bangk-muhnt] / ɛmˈbæŋk mənt /

noun

1. a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back water, carry a roadway, etc.

2. the action of embanking.

---

embankment British  

/ ɪmˈbæŋkmənt /

noun

1. a man-made ridge of earth or stone that carries a road or railway or confines a waterway See also levee 1

---

Etymology

Origin of embankment

First recorded in 1780–90; embank + -ment

Example Sentences

From the embankment I spy the golden domes of Orthodox churches and, down below, ice fishermen dotted along the frozen river.

From BBC

He ran the last fifty yards, up the embankment to the start of the bridge.

From Literature

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews responded to a crash involving a car which rolled down an embankment in Pengenffordd, Powys, at 19:45 GMT on 31 January.

From BBC

"We've planned these works carefully so that several essential upgrades, from tunnel repairs to platform extension work and embankment maintenance, can be delivered in one closure period."

From BBC

"The local landscape includes the M4 corridor and railway lines in cuttings and embankments," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• hill