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Synonyms

butte

1 American  
[byoot] / byut /

noun

Western U.S. and Canada.

  1. an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding land.

Butte 2 American  
[byoot] / byut /

noun

  1. a city in SW Montana: mining center.

butte British  
/ bjuːt /

noun

  1. an isolated steep-sided flat-topped hill

"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
butte Scientific  
/ byo̅o̅t /

  1. A steep-sided hill with a flat top, often standing alone in an otherwise flat area. A butte is smaller than a mesa.

Etymology

Origin of butte

1650–60, < North American French; French: low hill, mound, Old French: landmark, target, apparently feminine derivative of but butt 2

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.

There will be two reservoirs — one up on the butte, another 1,000 feet below.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2024

I left early, skipping breakfast to trek along the butte toward the Piz Boè.

From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2022

An Oregon butte unfortunately titled “Swastika Mountain” will be getting a new name in the near future.

From Washington Times • Aug. 24, 2022

It wrapped around the butte several times and switched back and forth as it snaked upward to the summit, where guests were dropped off at the front door like royalty.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 5, 2022

The eagle screamed to announce his success, then flew toward a distant butte.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.