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Synonyms

aiguille

American  
[ey-gweel, ey-gweel] / eɪˈgwil, ˈeɪ gwil /

noun

  1. a needlelike rock mass or mountain peak.


aiguille British  
/ ˈeɪɡwiːl, eɪˈɡwiːl /

noun

  1. a rock mass or mountain peak shaped like a needle

  2. an instrument for boring holes in rocks or masonry

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

aiguille Scientific  
/ ā-gwēl /
  1. A sharply pointed mountain peak found in regions that have undergone intense glaciation. Aigulles are believed to be the remnants of the elevated areas separating two adjacent cirques.


Etymology

Origin of aiguille

1810–20; < French: literally, needle < Vulgar Latin *acūcula, alteration of Late Latin acucula, equivalent to acu ( s ) needle + -cula -cule 1; cf. acicula

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is seen, as there shown, from the moraine of the Charmoz glacier, its summit bearing S. 40� W.; and its cleavage bed leaning to the left or S.E., against the aiguille Blaiti�re.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John

I do not know if their rude resemblance to two figures, on opposite sides of a table or altar, has had anything to do with the name of the aiguille.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John

The aiguille may generally be represented by the type a, Fig.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John

The larger masses of the whole aiguille, and true contour of this horn, are carefully given in plate 30, Fig.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John

The hollow in the heart of the aiguille is as smooth and sweeping in curve as the cavity of a vast bivalve shell.

From Modern Painters, Volume IV (of V) by Ruskin, John