cordillera

[kawr-dl-yair-uh, -air-uh, kawr-dil-er-uh]

noun

1. a chain of mountains, usually the principal mountain system or mountain axis of a large landmass.

cordillera

/ ˌkɔːdɪlˈjɛərə /

noun

1. a series of parallel ranges of mountains, esp in the northwestern US

cordillera

1. A long and wide chain of mountains, especially the main mountain range of a large landmass. Cordilleras can include the valleys, basins, rivers, lakes, plains, and plateaus between parallel chains of a single mountain system, or they can consist solely of a string of connected mountain peaks.

Other Word Forms

• cordilleran adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordillera¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; from Spanish, derivative of cordilla, diminutive of cuerda “rope, string” (from Latin chorda ). Cordillera originally applied to the Andes Mountains in South America and later to the same mountain chain in Central America and Mexico; cord

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordillera¹

C18: from Spanish, from cordilla, literally: a little cord, from cuerda mountain range, _cord

Example Sentences

With a mixture of sadness and relief, Severo decided that his brother-in-law and his machine must have fallen into some hidden crevice of the cordillera, where they would never be found.

From Literature

His chief ambition at this point was to cross the cordillera in an unusual form of transportation, just as his Uncle Marcos had tried to do many years before.

From Literature

Related Words

• sierra