massif

American  

[ma-seef, mas-if, ma-seef] / mæˈsif, ˈmæs ɪf, maˈsif /

noun

1. a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits.

2. a large elevated block of old complex rocks resistant to both erosion and crustal folding.

3. a band or zone of the earth's crust raised or depressed as a unit and bounded by faults.

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massif British  

/ masif, ˈmæsiːf /

noun

1. a geologically distinct mass of rock or a series of connected masses forming the peaks of a mountain range

2. a topographically high part of the earth's crust that is bounded by faults and may be shifted by tectonic movements

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massif Scientific  

/ mă-sēf′ /

1. A large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. A massif often consists of rocks that are more rigid than the surrounding rocks.

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Etymology

Origin of massif

1515–25; < French, noun use of massif massive

Example Sentences

Eventually the entire massif stands exposed: a solitary block of limestone rising 1,800 feet above the Mojave floor.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

The massif rocks contain lots of olivine, a mineral that reacts with water in a process called serpentinization.

From Science Magazine • May 25, 2023

Or, some gentle action for nature-lovers, take part in a group botanical survey, identifying the flora and fauna of the Mont Blanc massif.

From National Geographic • Apr. 16, 2023

The gold medal draped over his shoulders — his fifth of the Games — gleamed upon a massif of muscle and a dark tangle of tattoos.

From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2021

The route took us up the gently sloping floor of the Western Cwm, the highest box canyon on earth, a horseshoe-shaped defile gouged from the heart of the Everest massif by the Khumbu Glacier.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• sierra