barranca

American  

[buh-rang-kuh, bahr-rahng-kah] / bəˈræŋ kə, bɑrˈrɑŋ kɑ /

noun

barrancas plural

1. a steep-walled ravine or gorge.

2. a gully with steep sides; arroyo.

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barranca British  

/ bəˈræŋkəʊ, bəˈræŋkə /

noun

1. a ravine or precipice

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• barrancas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of barranca

First recorded in 1685–95; from Spanish, variant of barranco, of obscure, probably pre-Latin origin

Example Sentences

Already with a two-shot lead, he was a yard away from an easy birdie on the par-5 eighth when his approach hit a steep bank of the barranca to the left.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 18, 2023

A steep gully known as a barranca snakes through the course.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2023

He slammed his club into the ground walking on a path through the barranca.

From Washington Times • Jun. 16, 2023

You’ve got barranca to the right and trees to the left.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2023

For a distance it was squeezed tight between the walls of the steep-sloped, cedar-tufted barranca.

From The Vision of Elijah Berl by Nason, Frank Lewis