crevasse

American  

[kruh-vas] / krəˈvæs /

noun

1. a fissure, or deep cleft, in glacial ice, the earth's surface, etc.

2. a breach in an embankment or levee.

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verb (used with object)

crevassed, crevassing

1. to fissure with crevasses.

crevasse British  

/ krɪˈvæs /

noun

1. a deep crack or fissure, esp in the ice of a glacier

2. a break in a river embankment

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verb

1. (tr) to make a break or fissure in (a dyke, wall, etc)

crevasse Scientific  

/ krĭ-văs′ /

1. A deep fissure in a glacier or other body of ice. Crevasses are usually caused by differential movement of parts of the ice over an uneven topography.

2. A large, deep fissure in the Earth caused by an earthquake.

3. A wide crack or breach in the bank of a river. Crevasses usually form during floods.

4. ◆ The sediments that spill out through the crevasse and fan out along the external margin of the river's bank form a crevasse splay deposit.

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Other Word Forms

• uncrevassed adjective

Etymology

Origin of crevasse

1805–15, < French; crevice

Compare meaning

How does crevasse compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• crevasse vs. crevice

Example Sentences

Hikes to the top of Mount Cook, which towers over the Southern Alps running the length of the South Island, are difficult even for experienced climbers because of large crevasses and unpredictable weather.

From BBC

The glacier was covered with slick ice and sweeping snowdrifts and deep crevasses.

From Literature

The dragon will give Mae the flower, but first she must rescue his son, which has fallen down a crevasse.

From The Wall Street Journal

It is a dangerous and unstable place, "criss-crossed with crevasses", and with slopes of up to 45 degrees, according to the Polish team.

From BBC

While repelling a mountain wall, Mr Huserka’s thread cracked and he fell into an ice crevasse, he partner said.

From BBC

Related Words

• abyss
• chasm
• fissure