canyon

¹

Or ca·ñon

[kan-yuhn]

noun

1. a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it.

   Synonyms: coulee, arroyo, gap, pass, ravine, gully, gorge

Canyon

²

[kan-yuhn]

noun

1. a town in N Texas.

canyon

/ ˈkænjən /

noun

1. a gorge or ravine, esp in North America, usually formed by the down-cutting of a river in a dry area where there is insufficient rainfall to erode the sides of the valley

canyon

1. A long, deep, narrow valley with steep cliff walls, cut into the Earth by running water and often having a stream at the bottom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of canyon¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45; from Colonial Spanish (Mexico, southwestern U.S.), Spanish cañón “a long tube, a hollow,” equivalent to cañ(a) “tube” (from Latin canna cane ) + -on augmentative suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of canyon¹

C19: from Spanish cañón, from caña tube, from Latin canna cane

Example Sentences

Such complex urban environments are known as 'urban canyons'.

Read more on Science Daily

She arrived at the canyon in the back of Kennedy’s van, seats removed, where she bounced alongside several of Kennedy’s dogs and men’s health influencer Brigham Buhler.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Within two days, 40-plus miles and some 5,000 feet of elevation, I was gobsmacked by the vistas, the morning light on the canyons and the solitude on the campground — aside from the abundant wildlife.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then, in August 2020, lightning sparked a series of fires in the area, including one that began burning in a river canyon on U.S.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a canyon overlooking Paradise Cove, melted steel beams protrude from a concrete foundation that survived Woolsey.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gorge 
• gully 
• ravine 
• valley