couloir
noun
a steep gorge or gully on the side of a mountain, especially in the Alps.
couloirs
-
pluralof couloir.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Olympian Cam Smith described the longer versions as a “more in-wild-mountains-off-the-ski-resorts event where you’re climbing up and skiing down in wild places and on technical ridges, on peaks, couloirs, all that good stuff.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
“Access couloirs that used to last deep into August are falling apart,” Volken added, describing the steep, narrow gullies that climbers often must ascend.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 4, 2023
And while Big Sky is revered for steep chutes and terrifying couloirs, of the resort’s 5,800 acres, 40% is made for newbies and intermediate skiers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2018
Still 10 minutes from the summit, John peered over the edge of one of the first couloirs.
From New York Times ● Dec. 30, 2015
The couloirs are wide, lofty, richly carpeted; the walls of them encrusted with pale highly polished marbles, pilasters of which, with heavily gilded capitals, flank vast panels of looking-glass.
From The Far Horizon by Lucas Malet
