cordillera
[ kawr-dl-yair-uh, -air-uh, kawr-dil-er-uh ]
/ ˌkɔr dlˈyɛər ə, -ˈɛər ə, kɔrˈdɪl ər ə /
noun
a chain of mountains, usually the principal mountain system or mountain axis of a large landmass.
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Origin of cordillera
1695–1705; < Spanish, derivative of cordilla, diminutive of cuerda string, mountain range (< Latin chorda); see cord
OTHER WORDS FROM cordillera
cor·dil·le·ran, adjectiveWords nearby cordillera
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for cordillera
British Dictionary definitions for cordillera
cordillera
/ (ˌkɔːdɪlˈjɛərə) /
noun
a series of parallel ranges of mountains, esp in the northwestern US
Derived forms of cordillera
cordilleran, adjectiveWord Origin for cordillera
C18: from Spanish, from cordilla, literally: a little cord, from cuerda mountain range, cord
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Scientific definitions for cordillera
cordillera
[ kôr′dl-yâr′ə ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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